Call for Review of Law to Better Protect Children from Sexual Abuse
On December 19, President Halimah Yacob suggested that rapists aged 50 or older should not be exempt from caning, expressing her concern over recent cases of children being sexually assaulted in their own homes. Under Singapore’s Penal Code, convicted rapists can face up to 20 years in prison, a fine, and caning. However, individuals aged 50 and above are currently not subject to corporal punishment but may face longer imprisonment as an alternative.
In response to recent cases, including a disturbing pattern of child sexual abuse by male relatives, Madam Halimah wrote in a Facebook post: “Rapists should not be spared the cane just because they are fifty years old. It’s ironic that they could escape from the pain caused by caning despite the lifetime of severe trauma and irreparable damage that they cruelly inflicted on their victims.”
She referenced several recent cases, including a 54-year-old man who was jailed for repeatedly molesting his daughter from the age of 10, and another man who attempted to rape his four-year-old daughter. These cases, among others, highlight the need for stronger protections for children, she said.
Madam Halimah emphasized the importance of severe punishments for convicted offenders but also called for additional measures to protect children from sexual predators. “We need to look at other ways to help our children and stop them from falling prey to such rapists,” she stated.
The President also highlighted how many victims of such abuse only realise the wrongfulness of their experiences much later, often after attending sex education classes in school. She pointed out the coercion, intimidation, and threats that often prevent children from speaking out about the abuse they endure.
Madam Halimah concluded by urging organisations dealing with domestic violence, such as PAVE, to collaborate with government agencies to improve measures for protecting children from sexual abuse in their homes.
