Overview
| If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline at 1800-777-0000 or make an online report via the NAVH reporting Form. If there is imminent danger to your/the victim’s life and safety, call the Police at 999 or SMS 70999 for immediate assistance. |
Strong and stable families are the bedrock of our society. Families should be where members feel safe and supported. Domestic Violence offends our fundamental values as a society and must not be condoned.
Domestic Violence could happen to anyone and can take various forms such as Child Abuse, Spousal Abuse, Vulnerable Adult Abuse and Elder Abuse.
MSF's Policy on Family Protection
MSF plays a lead role in supporting families at risk or in distress. It sets the policy and service delivery framework for helping and protecting families in dysfunction and those affected by violence. MSF also leads in its public education efforts to raise awareness of domestic violence issues.
MSF works in partnership with families and the community to promote a safe, stable and nurturing family environment for their members. In the area of family protection, we are guided by the principle that the safety and interest of the children and individuals in the family are of paramount importance. While we try to preserve the family unit where possible, safety issues will not be compromised. Where families are dysfunctional and unsafe for their members, alternative arrangements for the care of these individuals may need to be arranged.
To operationalise this policy framework, MSF has established a comprehensive protection system that provides different levels of support based on the severity of safety and risk concerns.
Ecosystem of Support in Protection Landscape
Domestic Violence is a complex matter and requires a whole of society effort. There is a network of committed professionals who work together to keep vulnerable individuals and families safe. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is the lead agency for protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse and neglect in Singapore. MSF works closely with partners in the protection system such as the Police, schools, hospitals, Social Service Agencies, Prisons, Courts and Attorney-General’s Chambers to safeguard the interests and welfare of vulnerable individuals and families in Singapore.
The extent and intrusiveness of interventions provided to vulnerable persons and their families are in relation to the severity of the safety and risk concerns presented.
Tier 1 Cases: Low Safety and Risk Concerns
Cases with low safety and risk concerns are handled by community agencies. Families with low safety and risk concerns could face high levels of emotional and economic stress, which may adversely impact the vulnerable individual.
Community agencies are the first line of support to detect and safeguard the safety and welfare of the vulnerable. Examples of these community agencies include schools, hospitals, polyclinics, Agency for Integrated Care, SG Enable, Silver Generation Office, Social Service Offices, Family Service Centres, Active Ageing Centres, Eldercare and Disability Services and other Social Service Agencies.
Tier 1 Cases: Moderate Safety and Risk Concerns
Cases with moderate risk and safety concerns are supported by specialist agencies. These specialist agencies include the Child Protection Specialist Centres, Protection Specialist Centres, PAVE Integrated Services, Safe and Strong Families agencies, Pre-Family Guidance Order & Family Guidance Order agencies, Fostering Agencies, Children’s Homes and Crisis Shelters.
Tier 2 Cases: High Safety and Risk Concerns
Cases with high safety and risk concerns would require statutory intervention, overseen by MSF’s Protective Service. Generally, these cases may warrant more intrusive intervention such as the removal of a child or Vulnerable Adult to keep the individual safe. For example, severe injuries such as burns or fractures have been inflicted on the individual by the parent or caregiver.
MSF’s Protective Service
MSF’s Protective Service (PSV)* provides statutory intervention for children, Vulnerable Adults experiencing abuse, neglect or self-neglect, and egregious cases of Domestic Violence with imminent danger.
To support vulnerable individuals and families experiencing Domestic Violence, MSF also provides funding to Social Service Agencies such as Crisis Shelters, Child Protection Specialist Centres, Protection Specialist Centres, PAVE Integrated Services and agencies conducting the Mandatory Counselling Programme**.
More information on the Protection System in Singapore is found in the following links:
MSF works closely with community partners to strengthen support for survivors of Domestic Violence. All of us have a collective responsibility to keep Domestic Violence survivors safe and empower both survivors and perpetrators to come forward.
*Since May 2025, Child Protective Service, Adult Protective Service and Children in Care have been integrated to form Protective Service.
**The Mandatory Counselling Programme is a court-ordered counselling programme for individuals or families who have used or experienced violence. Clients are placed on this programme when the Family Justice Courts issue a Counselling Order as part of a Personal Protection Order application.