Child Protection Investigation Cases Involving Emotional Abuse and Neglect

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each year in the past five years, what is the breakdown in the number and percentage of child protection investigation cases which involve (i) emotional abuse and (ii) emotional neglect, respectively.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Children and Young Persons Act was amended in 2019 to provide clarity and introduce examples of emotional and psychological abuse, including forms of emotional neglect, such as isolating a child. Since the amendments came into effect, the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Child Protective Service has investigated an average of around 340 cases of emotional and psychological abuse each year, making up approximately 16% of all cases.