Data on household member charged with failing to protect child from sexual abuse and adequacy of laws protecting them

Question:

Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs with reference to the existing offences under section 5 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 and sections 304C and 335A of the Penal Code 1871 (a) in the past five years, how many cases have involved a household member being charged with failing to protect a child from sexual abuse; and (b) whether these provisions are adequate, especially in cases where the abuse may persist undetected for years.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Where the family or household are involved in covering up child sexual abuse, it would be difficult for the offence to be picked up, and the sexual abuse could remain hidden for years. This situation is common in many countries. Abuse within a family context is not easy to detect. As a society, we ought to protect our children from predators. The Government has put in measures in place to strengthen early detection and reporting at various touch points:

2. First, in schools, preschools and community settings, children learn about personal safety, boundaries and where to seek help.

3. Second, professionals who work with children, including those in healthcare and education, are trained to use tools such as the Sector Specific Screening Guide and Child Abuse Reporting Guide to recognise signs of abuse. They are urged to report concerns to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment (NAVH) Helpline.

4. Third, the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF’s) Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response (SAFER) unit provides frontline professionals with relevant information to identify children and families who may need timely help and support.

5. Fourth, for younger victims, Multi-Disciplinary Interviews are conducted in partnership with MSF and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. These interviews integrate forensic medical examinations, reducing the need for victims to recount their experiences multiple times and thereby minimising re-traumatisation.

6. There are also severe penalties to deter such offences and to hold offenders accountable. Section 6 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 (CYPA) makes it an offence for a person who has custody, charge or care of a child or young person to ill-treat the child or young person, or to cause, procure or knowingly permit another person to do so. Ill-treatment includes sexual abuse. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 8 years’ imprisonment, or 14 years’ imprisonment if death is caused. There are also offences which may be disclosed depending on the nature of the case.

7. From 2021 to 2025, there were 36 reported cases under section 6 of the CYPA which resulted in prosecution. This figure includes cases reported under section 5 of the CYPA before amendments to the Act came into force on 31 December 2021. The Police do not separately track cases in which a person knowingly permitted a child or young person to be sexually abused.

8. Offenders who commit serious violent or sexual offences, including rape or sexual penetration of minors, and who pose a substantial risk of re-offending may be sentenced under the recently commenced Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (SEPP), where the offender will be detained for a minimum term of between five and 20 years, as determined by the court. Under the SEPP, the offender’s suitability for release will be reviewed regularly, and detention may continue as long as necessary, beyond 20 years, for public protection if the offender is assessed to remain a threat to the public.