Adjournment motion on understanding and responding to intimate partner violence in Singapore

The Ministry of Social and Family Development will review suggestions on using technology to help victims of domestic violence and enhance training for professionals who deal with such cases. NMP Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim had suggested some of these when she spoke in an adjournment motion on understanding and responding to intimate partner violence in Singapore. They include wearable devices that can alert police when incidents happen, data analysis to predict families who might be at risk, online therapeutic support for women, and virtual simulators to train police, social workers and healthcare staff. Assoc Prof Razwana also recommended stepping up measures in the workplace, such as providing awareness training to all staff and managers and enhancing employee assistance programmes for those who need help. Replying in parliament on Tuesday (Apr 8), Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling said employers’ greatest contribution is to support survivors to rebuild their lives by giving them the opportunity of a job, rather than to do things which the government or community is better equipped to do. She also responded to Assoc Prof Razwana’s suggestions of providing housing and income support to women leaving a domestic violence situation.