Reported Domestic Violence Cases against Women

16 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in the past three years, how many domestic violence cases against women, especially those above 50 years, have been reported; (b) what is the Ministry doing to reach out to those who may be suffering in silence; and (c) whether the Ministry will look into ways to raise public awareness and work with grassroots groups to reach out to the silent victims.

The Minister for Social and Family Development (Mr Desmond Lee): Mr Speaker, over the last three years, the Family Justice Courts received a yearly average of about 2,800 applications for Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) against an abusive family member. Around 75% of the applications were made by women. Of these women, about 20%, or about 450 applications, were from those above 50 years of age.

No one should suffer alone in silence. A strong partnership among Government agencies and community partners is necessary to ensure that those affected by violence receive the needed help and receive it early. The National Family Violence Networking System (NFVNS) was established more than 20 years ago for victims to be assisted by touchpoints, such as Family Service Centres and Family Violence Specialist Centres.

Family violence is not a private matter. That is why, Mr Speaker, Sir, you will remember that you had launched the "Break the Silence Against Family Violence" campaign for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) last year. This campaign raises awareness about family violence through platforms, such as social media and community roadshows. It also involves collaboration with community and corporate partners to equip bystanders with resources and skills to safely step in to help victims.

We train partners and grassroots organisations to understand family violence and, importantly, to identify families experiencing violence early. Recently, MSF facilitated a conversation with Taman Jurong Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC), Fei Yue Family Service Centre, Jurong West Neighbourhood Police Centre and SSO@Taman Jurong on ways to prevent and intervene in family violence situations together. This saw participation from grassroots leaders, schools, arts and sports groups, corporate bodies, self-help groups, the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and the Police. Such initiatives deepen the awareness of family violence and enable more people to break the silence and reach out to seek help for those affected.

Mr Speaker: Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): I thank the Minister. I have two supplementary questions. Recently, I had a meeting with three voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) in my constituency and all the three reported that there is an upward trend in the cases that they handle on violence against women who are above 50 years old. All the three consistently said the same thing. So, I would like to ask, nationally, is this the trend? Is this an upward trend?

The second question: will there be a study commissioned to see what the root cause is and how we can intervene for these violence cases against elderly women?

Mr Desmond Lee: Sir, I thank the Member for her keen concern about violence against elderly women. Based on the available statistics, the number of PPO applications by women above the age of 50 has remained relatively stable over the last three years. There were 480 in 2014, 430 in 2016. But every case is one case too many and we remain concerned about addressing the key issues that lead to violence in families, especially violence against women and violence against seniors.

MSF did a survey in January last year to uncover a little bit more about the problem of family violence. About 40% feared reporting family violence because they felt it was a private matter. About half feared that reporting the matter will break up the family. Slightly more than a third was unsure exactly what family violence was and how to get help.

So, it is an invisible problem. But family members, relatives, neighbours, colleagues, community leaders, friends can help to spot what would otherwise be an invisible problem and help alert the many touchpoints that are available that would allow us to intervene. In situations where people do not seek help but we are alerted to family violence, the Member would know that MSF is working on a Vulnerable Adults Bill with laws that would allow us to intervene in such instances. I thank the Member for her supplementary question.