Speech by Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, at the book launch of "Survivors: Breaking the Silence on Child Sexual Abuse", 15 November 2017

Associate Professor Daniel Fung, Chairman, Medical Board, Institute of Mental Health

Ms Eirliani A Rahman

Ladies and gentlemen

              Good evening. I am pleased to be here at the launch of “Survivors: Breaking the Silence on Child Sexual Abuse”. Child sexual abuse^[1] is a complex issue. It requires sensitive management and efforts by various professionals to ensure victims’ safety, and recovery for victims and their families. This book provides information on the pernicious and long-term effects of child sexual abuse on adult survivors. It contains personal accounts of five men and seven women from different backgrounds. It dispels the common notion that only girls get abused, and that the perpetrators are only male.

2            Between 2012 and 2016, Singapore Police investigated an annual average of 325 cases of serious sexual crimes involving under-16 victims. Over the same period, the Police investigated about 290 cases of outrage of modesty and 45 cases of sexual exploitation and sexual grooming on average per year. While the trend for sexual crimes involving victims below 16 has been stable over the past five years, every case of child sexual abuse is one case too many. A very sad case, with long-lasting and deep emotional impact.

Supporting survivors of abuse

3            There are three key effects on children when abuse happens – guilt, self-blame, and betrayal. Why did such a thing happen, and what did they do to cause it? Where the abuser was a family member or caregiver, victims felt very betrayed. To those who have experienced abuse, let me say this to you: It’s not your fault! You don’t deserve that! Sexual assault is always the abuser’s responsibility!

4            If you have been abused, report immediately to the police. Telling someone is the right and brave thing to do to prevent future abuse and to stop that terrible thing from happening to others. Police will conduct a criminal investigation. Our officers are trained to sensitively handle child victims and families, to minimise further trauma. If the alleged perpetrator is a family member, Child Protective Service^[2] in MSF will be notified, investigate and work with protective caregivers to keep the child safe.

5            There are a range of services to help vulnerable children and their families. To name a few, counselling or case work management by Family Service Centres (FSCs), specialised services offered by the community-based Child Protection Specialist Centres (CPSCs), and targeted counselling or psychotherapy sessions by psychologists or counsellors from MSF, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and other community agencies.

6            There are also therapeutic support to help heal the trauma of abuse, learn ways to keep safe and learn to trust again, as difficult as it may be. There are professionals available to speak to on anxieties or fears aboutalternative care arrangements and coping with changes. Child Protective Service will periodically review the family’s progress in collaboration and consultation with families and professionals in the community before deciding whether it is safe for the child, if removed, to return home to their families.

7            The sad truth is survivors of abuse generally face a higher risk of mental health disorders than the youth in the general population. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has worked with the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) to develop Forensic Rehabilitation, Intervention, Evaluation & Network Development Services^[3] (FRIENDS). Early interventions can promote better psychological and social functioning, and minimise the development of mental health conditions.

Protecting vulnerable children

8            Prevention and early detection are important. We must remain vigilant and alert to signs of abuse. All of us can help by reaching out early to a child or family facing difficulties. There are various services in the community – help is there, seek it. MSF has stepped up training of community partners to better recognise signs of child abuse and escalate potential cases for early intervention. I understand that about 2,500 professionals, including teachers, have been trained so far.

9            In schools, there are support structures that allow for early and systematic identification of students with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Every school has Teacher Counsellors trained to provide basic counselling. Ministry of Education (MOE) works closely with IMH in early detection and treatment of students with emotional and behavioural problems.

Educating our children

10           But this is not enough.  One of the best ways of prevention is awareness and equipping our children with self-protection skills. Parents and caregivers must also play a part to educate children about ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ and have regular conversations about this in a safe environment. Children must also be taught to approach their teacher, school counsellor or a trusted adult for help or support.

11           I am encouraged to see ground-up initiatives by survivors to raise awareness and educate others on child sexual abuse. It takes great courage and strength to open up and talk about painful experiences. I can only imagine the depth of your suffering and aguish. I salute you for rising above your difficulties! I admire you for your strength in putting aside deep pain and trauma to help fellow survivors heal. I respect you for your passion and zeal in helping others understand and prevent such terrible incident from happening. I urge each one of us to work together to support each other and break the silence on child sexual abuse.

12            Eleanor Roosevelt said: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along’.” Friends, together, let’s stop to really look fear in the face! Let’s face the future together – with strength, courage and confidence! I wish you all the very best in life.

13            I am very honoured to be here, to be among such fine and brave men and women.

14            Thank you. 

^[1] Sexual abuse includes molest, rape and also exposing a Children and Young Persons (CYP) to sexual acts or pornography. Most sexual abuse cases involved an allegation of molest. Victims can experience physical hurt (e.g. hymen tear, bruises) and trauma as a result of the abuse. The emotional impact can be long-lasting and affect the child’s self-esteem, academic performance, health and inter-personal relationships.

^[2] CPS investigates cases of abuse of children below the age of 16 years, as provided for under the Children and Young Persons Act.

^[3] The FRIENDS programme was developed for children and youths who are either offenders or victims involved in the justice system, who have mental health conditions.