More help for those facing domestic violence

SINGAPORE — Divorce- and family-related services could be strengthened, with several specialist agencies set up to provide targeted assistance to families in need.

The services on offer could encompass non-legal advice, counselling and mediation. Some specialist agencies may also have to handle issues related to family violence.

These are some of the recommendations that the Family Justice Committee, set up earlier this year and co-chaired by Senior Minister of State for Law Indranee Rajah and Judge of Appeal VK Rajah, is currently considering.

Speaking at a forum on family violence yesterday, Ms Indranee noted that families face increasing pressure from different sources.

This tends to cause family members to find an outlet in various forms such as domestic violence, and more needs to be done to help and protect family members who face these problems and other issues, she said.

Spouses seeking help for abuse are doing so within the first five years of marriage, instead of between seven and 10 years a decade ago, according to a 10-year analysis of cases seen at the Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence (PAVE), one of three agencies in Singapore that specialise in dealing with family violence.

About seven in 10 new cases each year were related to spousal violence, followed by other forms of family violence, such as elder or sibling abuse and child abuse.

Dr Sudha Nair, Executive Director of PAVE, stressed that the figures did not point to a prevalence of spousal abuse but, rather, greater public awareness. Dr Sudha added that the centre is also seeing more cases of troubled families involving naturalised citizens who come in with “a lot of their own cultural baggage”, which can be “challenging” to deal with.

While the Family Justice system can play a “critical role” in fulfilling Singaporeans’ desire to maintain a strong family, the legal route is “not the best solution” for family conflict and problems, said Ms Indranee.

“If it gets to the court, that is a scenario where it is already quite bad. And if you want to save the family and be able to try as far as possible to make sure (it) remains intact, then you have to go further upstream.”

Thus, the committee is looking to strengthen “touch points” that help identify problems when they arise. These include places like family service centres, schools, hospitals, charities, Members of Parliament and lawyers, who would be able to identify the problems and refer those in need to the appropriate agency, so they can be given the right kind of assistance.

Ms Indranee added: “If we can get it at the very early stage, (we can) try to intervene (then) and make sure the appropriate help is given (especially in terms of counselling). Very often, if you could help them work through the issue, you may be able to resolve it and set them back on the right path.”

The committee intends to make public a consultation paper early next year.

BOX:

Project StART by Care Corner Family Service Centre (Queenstown)

Blk 7A Commonwealth Ave #01-672 Singapore 141007

Tel No: 6476 1482

projectstart [at] carecorner.org.sg

TRANS SAFE Centre

Blk 410 Bedok North Ave 2 #01-58 Singapore 460410

Tel No: 6449 9088

transsafe [at] trans.org.sg