School- or Community-based Programmes to Educate Children on Definitions of Types of Abuse and Ways to Seek Help

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in light of the September 2024 Domestic Violence Trends Report, what school or community-based programmes are in place to educate children and young people about (i) definitions of emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect (ii) their right to always be safe from all forms of emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect and (iii) age-appropriate and child-centred avenues to seek help if they have concerns about their safety and well-being.

Children and young persons are taught in schools or through programmes developed by Social Service Agencies, on how to keep themselves safe. Preschoolers learn about body safety awareness, including recognising safe and unsafe body touches and seeking help from trusted adults when they feel unsafe. From Primary 1, students participate in Character and Citizenship Education lessons which cover different forms of abuse, their right to safety and the importance of respecting boundaries. These lessons also emphasise how students can seek help from trusted adults, such as their parents, teachers and school counsellors, when in need of support.