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Family Protection & Welfare Services

Topic(s): Children & Families, Protection from Domestic Violence

Services include Mandatory Counselling, Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P) and Special Marriage License.


Family Violence

Family violence can occur in different forms. As defined in the Women’s Charter (Amendment) Bill, it occurs when a family member* inflicts physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological harm on another.

Family violence includes: 

  • Wilfully or knowingly placing or attempting to place a family member* in fear or hurt

  • Causing hurt to a family member* by an act which is known (or ought to have been known) would result in hurt

  • Wrongly confining or restraining a family member* against their will and

  • Continual harassment with intent to cause (or knowing that it is likely to cause) anguish to a family member*.

*A family member refers to a spouse or former spouse, child (including adopted and step-child), parents, father or mother-in-law and sibling, or any other relative whom the Court regards as a member of the family.

Types of abuse 

  1. Physical Abuse 

    a) Causes or threatens personal injury or physical pain 

    b) Includes wrongful confinement or restraint 

    c)     Excludes lawful self-defence or appropriate child correction 

  1. Sexual Abuse

    a) Coerces or attempts to coerce sexual activity

  2. Emotional or Psychological Abuse 

    a) Torments, intimidates, harasses, or distresses 
    b) Causes or may reasonably cause mental harm, including suicidal thoughts or self-harm 

Abuse may occur as a single incident or a pattern of behaviour. The abusive conduct need not be directly aimed at the family member but must be perceivable by them. 

Examples include punching, slapping, kicking, choking, hitting with objects, issue of threats, intimidation and verbal abuse.

For more information, visit the Break the Silence website.


Mandatory Counselling Programme

The Mandatory Counselling Programme is a court ordered counselling programme to help persons who have experienced or used domestic violence. This programme administered by the Ministry of Social and Family Development aims to keep families safe through:   

  •  Helping family members to learn more respectful behaviours to resolve conflict; and   

  • Providing family members with the necessary support and skills to ensure everyone’s safety.   

What is done in Mandatory Counselling?

Mandatory counselling can be in the form of individual or group counselling. The following issues may be covered during the counselling sessions:


  • What is family violence?

  • Understand how one’s background and family history relate to the violent behaviour

  • Basic Anger Management

  • Stress Management and Problem Solving

  • Communication and Assertiveness Training

  • Safety Plans for the Victim-Survivors

  • Marital / Family Issues

  • Impact of Family Violence on Children

What if you fail to attend Mandatory Counselling?

If the respondent fails to attend counselling, it is considered a breach of the Counselling Order, and the respondent who is guilty of an offence shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2000.

For more information, visit Mandatory Counselling and the Family Justice Courts’ website.


Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P)

The Positive Parenting Programme or Triple P Programme is designed to help parents promote children’s development and manage children’s behaviour in a constructive and non-hurtful way. It is based on good communication and positive attention to help children develop.

This programme has been conducted for parents of children who are beyond parental control, child abuse cases, family violence cases, as well as young mothers put on probation.


Special Marriage License

MSF processes Special Marriage Licence applications for the marriage of persons under the age of 18 years. To ensure that young couples have given thorough thought to the notion of marriage, applicants are interviewed and assessed for their suitability for marriage.

We also help couples realise the long-term responsibilities and consequences of marriage and avert break-ups in the future as far as possible.