Joan Pereira on Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill

It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting abused and neglected children from maintenance claims and ensuring fair access to justice to uphold Singapore’s principles of justice and compassion, said MP Joan Pereira. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (Jul 4), she highlighted the need for trauma-informed practices to help create a supportive and safe environment for such children within the justice system. She noted that the Tribunal and Commissioner responsible for overseeing the maintenance of parents have implemented trauma-informed practices to manage and minimise distress for the children involved. These involve training and educating the staff on trauma-sensitive approaches, ensuring that they have the necessary skills and understanding to respond to the unique needs of children who may not have official records, and promoting collaboration between relevant agencies to protect the affected parties. She stressed that the commitment to trauma-informed practices does not absolve parents from their responsibilities, as parents should be held accountable for their actions. However, through trauma-informed practices, they can strive to strike a delicate balance of protecting the child and ensuring that the elderly parent also has fair access to justice, she said.