Rise in spousal abuse cases

More willing to report abusive husband or wife as public campaigns have led to awareness, say social workers

- Theresa Tan

The greater willingness to report an abusive husband or wife has led to a steady rise in the number of spousal abuse cases in the past few years, say social workers.

In 2023, there were 2,008 new spousal violence cases, up by 15 per cent from 1,741 such cases in 2022. In 2021, the figure was 1,632, according to the inaugural Domestic Violence Trends report released by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Sept 26.

An MSF spokeswoman said this is the first time the ministry is releasing data on spousal violence. Social workers who work with victims of domestic abuse said public education campaigns about family violence by the MSF and other agencies over the years have led to greater awareness of the problem and eased the stigma of seeking help to end the abuse.

Mr Martin Chok, deputy director of family and community services at Care Corner Singapore, said: "In the past, people didn't want to wash their dirty linen in public.

"But with the Government's focus on (tackling) family violence, people are more aware, and we get families calling in saying that their relatives have been harmed."

It is also easy to report the abuse through the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline launched in 2021, said social workers.

Ms Lorraine Lim, deputy chief executive of the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO), said: “Domestic violence is a complicated issue as the person causing harm is also the person the victim loves.”

Victims may choose not to report the violence for fear of getting the abuser into trouble with the law, or may worry that making a report would end the relationship, among the myriad reasons why they choose to keep mum about the abuse, she added.

The SCWO runs the Star Shelter for women and children who are survivors of family violence.