What is child abuse?

According to the legal definition in Singapore, cruelty to children below 16 years of age, involving acts of maltreatment by an adult, resulting in unnecessary suffering or injury to health or well-being of the victim, would be construed as child abuse.

This can take several forms:

• Physical abuse: involves physical injury to a child that is non-accidental and includes violence.
• Sexual abuse: involves sexual activity with a child by an adult, including suggestive or inappropriate behaviour or comments directed towards a child's private parts.
• Emotional abuse: any behaviour by a parent of caregiver that destroys a child's confidence in himself or herself.
• Physical neglect: when a child does not receive adequate food, shelter, medical care or supervision.
• Emotional neglect: when a child is subjected to wilful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment such as being ignored.

Source: Singapore Children's Society

This article was first published in The Straits Times.