STRENGTHENING THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Community Development how far has his Ministry progressed in its commitment, after the Winnie Ho enquiry, to amend and strengthen the Children and Young Persons Act.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: NMP Mdm Chiang has asked about the progress on the Ministry's plan to amend the Children and Young Persons's Act (CYPA). First, let me stress that the review of the C&YP Act is not prompted by the Winnie Ho case but came about as a result of a recommendation of the Inter-Ministry Committee on Dysfunctional Families, Juvenile Delinquency and Drug Abuse which was made in 1995. This Committee among other things had proposed that the C&YP Act should be amended to provide for more sentencing options to be made available for the management and treatment of juvenile delinquents.

The C&YP Act had been quite extensively reviewed and amended in 1993. In the current exercise we will look at three broad areas, namely the:

• treatment of juvenile offenders and children and young persons who are beyond parental control;

• investigation and management of children and young persons in need of care and protection; and

• administration and supervision of institutions for children and young persons.

In the area of child welfare and protection, one of the amendments proposed aims to strengthen provisions to obtain the cooperation of parents or guardians in seeking treatment and help for themselves, other than the victims. This provision will ensure that the perpetrators and the children can be directed for necessary assessment and treatment. Such a provision is already available under the Women's Charter.

I am glad to report that the review has been completed and an amendment Bill will be tabled later this year.