Anti-violence helpline reports jump nearly 50% in 2025 amid greater vigilance: MSF

The increase is driven largely by reports from the police, social service agencies and schools, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's latest domestic violence trends report.

The overall rise in NAVH reports likely reflects greater awareness of the helpline, stronger vigilance among professionals and a growing willingness among members of the public to report suspected abuse or seek help, said MSF. (Photo: iStock)

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SINGAPORE: Reports to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) jumped nearly 50 per cent in 2025 from the year before, driven largely by a sharp increase in reports from the police, social service agencies and schools.

The helpline received 16,525 reports last year, up from 11,068 in 2024, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) latest domestic violence trends report released on Thursday (Oct 29).

The rise comes amid greater public awareness of child abuse and neglect, which MSF said may have been heightened by several factors.

Asked whether the high-profile death of four-year-old Megan Khung contributed to the increase in reports, the ministry told CNA that the rise could not be attributed to any single case.

“While increased awareness following high-profile cases may contribute to reporting, the number of reports alone does not tell us what specifically prompted individuals to come forward,” it added.

A review into Megan's death identified multiple lapses in how agencies handled her case, including the police and MSF's Child Protective Service. Following the review, several measures were implemented to strengthen Singapore's child protection system and identify potential abuse cases earlier.

MSF said the overall rise in NAVH reports likely reflects greater awareness of the helpline, stronger vigilance among professionals and a growing willingness among members of the public to report suspected abuse or seek help.

“The availability of multiple reporting channels has also made it easier for individuals to access support and surface potential abuse concerns at an earlier stage,” said MSF.

Calls to NAVH rose to 14,083 in 2025 from 9,153 the previous year, while online reports increased to 2,442 from 1,915 over the same period.

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Of the reports received last year, 13,475 – or 82 per cent – required follow-up action, including further assessments, investigations, safety planning or referrals to community agencies and MSF's Protective Service (PSV).

However, not every report resulted in a new abuse case, said the ministry. Some of these reports were related to existing cases or information requests, while others were assessed not to require statutory or community-based intervention.

PUBLIC REMAINS LARGEST SOURCE OF REPORTS

Members of the public, including victim-survivors themselves, remained the largest source of NAVH reports requiring follow-up, accounting for 5,158 reports in 2025.

However, the overall increase was driven mainly by reports from law enforcement agencies, social service agencies and the education sector. Together, these sectors accounted for 57 per cent of reports requiring follow-up in 2025, up from 46 per cent in 2024.

Reports from law enforcement agencies more than tripled to 2,850 last year, from 941 the previous year.

One contributing factor was that from September 2024, police officers responding to domestic violence incidents involving a child or vulnerable adult are required to notify NAVH. This allows safety concerns to be assessed and appropriate referrals to be made where necessary, said MSF.

Reports from social service agencies rose 46 per cent to 2,813 in 2025, from 1,923 the previous year.

Meanwhile, those from the education sector increased 45 per cent to 2,056, from 1,418.

MSF said teachers and school counsellors are trained to identify signs of possible abuse or domestic violence, including unexplained injuries, changes in a student's behaviour or emotional well-being, frequent unexplained absences, or disclosures of violence at home.

“This increase in reports from these sectors suggests continued vigilance from frontline professionals and agencies in identifying suspected abuse concerns, alongside sustained reporting by members of the public,” the report said.

EMERGENCY RESPONSES MORE THAN DOUBLE

The MSF report also found that its Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVERT) responded to 1,439 domestic violence incidents last year, more than double the 675 recorded in 2024.

A significant proportion of these incidents involved suspected spousal abuse and child abuse, MSF said.

DVERT responds jointly with the police to high-risk domestic violence cases involving immediate safety concerns for victim-survivors. The team can be activated through referrals from the police or NAVH.

MSF said the increase in responses was likely partly due to DVERT's expansion to all seven police divisions islandwide in September 2024, which made crisis intervention and support more accessible to affected families.

It added that each response is counted separately, including instances where the same family required assistance on multiple occasions.

Depending on the circumstances, DVERT officers may provide immediate safety planning, crisis intervention and practical support at the scene before connecting families with follow-up services.

Social service professionals said such timely intervention is crucial, as domestic violence situations can escalate quickly.

“The value of DVERT is not only in responding to an immediate incident but also in facilitating early identification of risks and helping families access support before concerns potentially escalate further,” said Ms Tee Hui Wen, centre head of Whispering Hearts Family Service Centre.

She added that earlier referrals and information sharing help social workers assess risks, plan for safety and coordinate further interventions.

OVER 1,100 EMERGENCY ORDERS ISSUED

A total of 1,151 emergency orders were issued in 2025, following amendments to the Women's Charter that took effect in January that year.

The amendments empowered DVERT officers to issue emergency orders temporarily restraining perpetrators from committing violence against family members while victim-survivors seek longer-term protection orders from the courts.

Of the emergency orders issued, 80 per cent were against male perpetrators – with those aged between 30 and 49 accounting for the largest age group.

Spouses of victim-survivors accounted for 674 – or 59 per cent – of the orders issued.

The remaining orders involved other family relationships, including parents (154), children (141), siblings (138), relatives (31) and former spouses (13).

Data on how many emergency orders were followed by applications for longer-term personal protection orders is currently not available, MSF said.

A spokesperson from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) told CNA that breaching an emergency order – including a domestic exclusion order, stay away order or no contact order – is an arrestable offence.

“The police take reports of suspected emergency order breaches seriously and will investigate where there is reason to suspect that an offence has been committed, including consulting the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) where required,” SPF said.

In the report, MSF said that nearly 11,000 people participated in outreach initiatives last year aimed at raising awareness on how to recognise and respond to violence. These included roadshows, talks, symposiums, forums and other outreach activities.

Mr Kevin See, director of integrated family service at social service agency Montfort Care, said public education must continue so that people recognise the early signs of coercive control and seek help.

He also highlighted the challenges families face after a crisis, when emotional and practical concerns may deter victims from taking further action.

“After a crisis, families frequently enter a calm period often referred to as the 'honeymoon phase' in the cycle of violence, where apologies are made and hope resurfaces,” said Mr See.

“Choosing not to take further legal or police action is rarely about denial; it is often driven by financial dependence, fear of family disruption, or concern for the children's well-being.”

Montfort Care typically supports families for 12 to 14 months, helping them find safe accommodation, rebuild confidence and connect with community services.

“Our goal is to give families the tools and stability they need to feel truly safe again,” Mr See said.

Whispering Hearts’ Ms Tee similarly stressed that recovery from domestic violence takes time, with no single timeline for those affected.

She said longer-term support may include counselling, parenting support, financial assistance and referrals to specialist services, while interventions for children exposed to violence focus on their safety and well-being.

“Our goal is not only to address immediate safety concerns, but also to strengthen support systems, increase resilience and agency, and help families sustain safety, stability, and well-being over the longer term," she added.

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根据社会及家庭发展部最新发布的家庭暴力趋势报告，家庭暴力案件的增加主要源于警方、社会服务机构和学校的报告。

无国界医生组织表示，NAVH举报数量的总体上升可能反映出公众对求助热线的认知度提高、专业人员的警惕性增强，以及公众举报疑似虐待或寻求帮助的意愿日益增强。（图片：iStock）

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新加坡：2025年，向全国反暴力和性骚扰热线（NAVH）举报的案件数量比上一年增长了近50%，这主要是由于警方、社会服务机构和学校的举报数量大幅增加所致。

根据社会及家庭发展部（MSF）周四（10月29日）发布的最新家庭暴力趋势报告，去年该求助热线共收到16525份报告，高于2024年的11068份。

随着公众对虐待和忽视儿童问题的认识不断提高，儿童虐待和忽视案件数量也随之上升。无国界医生组织表示，这可能是多种因素共同作用的结果。

当被问及四岁女童梅根·孔（Megan Khung）的高调死亡是否导致报告数量增加时，卫生部告诉亚洲新闻台，报告数量的增加不能归因于任何单一案件。

“虽然高调案件的发生可能会提高公众意识，促使人们举报，但单凭举报数量并不能告诉我们究竟是什么促使人们挺身而出，”报告补充道。

对梅根之死的调查发现，包括警方和新加坡社会及家庭发展部（MSF）儿童保护服务在内的多个机构在处理此案的过程中存在疏漏。调查结束后，新加坡采取了多项措施，以加强儿童保护体系，并尽早发现潜在的虐待案件。

无国界医生组织表示，NAVH 报告总数的上升可能反映出人们对求助热线的认识提高、专业人员的警惕性增强以及公众越来越愿意举报疑似虐待或寻求帮助。

无国界医生组织表示：“多种举报渠道的出现也使得个人更容易获得支持，并在早期阶段发现潜在的虐待问题。”

2025 年，NAVH 接到的电话数量从上一年的 9,153 起增加到 14,083 起，而同期在线报告数量从 1,915 起增加到 2,442 起。

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去年收到的报告中，有 13,475 份（占 82%）需要采取后续行动，包括进一步评估、调查、安全计划或转介给社区机构和无国界医生保护服务 (PSV)。

该部门表示，并非所有举报都导致了新的虐待案件。有些举报与现有案件或信息请求有关，而另一些举报经评估无需法定干预或社区干预。

公众仍然是最大的报告来源

公众成员，包括受害者幸存者本人，仍然是需要跟进的 NAVH 报告的最大来源，2025 年的报告数量为 5,158 份。

然而，总体增长主要由执法机构、社会服务机构和教育部门的报告推动。到2025年，这些部门的报告总数占需要跟进报告总数的57%，高于2024年的46%。

去年执法机构的报告数量增加了两倍多，达到 2850 件，而前一年为 941 件。

无国界医生组织表示，促成这一结果的原因之一是，自2024年9月起，警方在处理涉及儿童或弱势成年人的家庭暴力事件时，必须通知国家家庭暴力和心理健康服务机构（NAVH）。这有助于评估安全隐患，并在必要时进行适当的转介。

社会服务机构的报告数量从上一年的 1,923 份增加到 2025 年的 2,813 份，增幅达 46%。

与此同时，教育部门的从业人员数量从 1,418 人增加到 2,056 人，增幅达 45%。

无国界医生组织表示，教师和学校辅导员接受过培训，能够识别可能存在的虐待或家庭暴力迹象，包括无法解释的伤情、学生行为或情绪状况的变化、频繁无故缺勤或披露家庭暴力情况。

报告称：“这些领域的报告数量增加表明，一线专业人员和机构在识别疑似虐待问题方面保持着持续的警惕，同时公众也持续进行举报。”

紧急响应次数增加了一倍以上

无国界医生组织的报告还发现，其家庭暴力紧急应对小组（DVERT）去年处理了 1439 起家庭暴力事件，是 2024 年记录的 675 起事件的两倍多。

无国界医生组织表示，这些事件中有相当一部分涉及疑似配偶虐待和儿童虐待。

DVERT与警方联合处理高风险家庭暴力案件，这些案件涉及受害者/幸存者的直接安全威胁。该团队可通过警方或NAVH的转介启动。

无国界医生组织表示，响应人数的增加可能部分是由于 DVERT 于 2024 年 9 月扩展到全岛所有七个警察部门，这使得受影响的家庭更容易获得危机干预和支持。

声明还补充说，每次响应都会单独计算，包括同一家庭多次需要帮助的情况。

根据具体情况，DVERT 警员可能会在现场提供即时的安全计划、危机干预和实​​际支持，然后再将家属与后续服务联系起来。

社会服务专业人士表示，这种及时的干预至关重要，因为家庭暴力情况可能会迅速升级。

“DVERT 的价值不仅在于应对突发事件，还在于帮助及早发现风险，并帮助家庭在问题可能进一步升级之前获得支持，” 低语之心家庭服务中心主任郑慧雯女士说。

她补充说，早期转介和信息共享有助于社会工作者评估风险、制定安全计划并协调进一步的干预措施。

已发布超过1100项紧急命令

2025 年，根据当年 1 月生效的《妇女宪章》修正案，共发布了 1151 项紧急命令。

这些修正案赋予了 DVERT 官员发布紧急命令的权力，可以暂时禁止施暴者对家庭成员实施暴力，同时受害者幸存者可以向法院申请更长期的保护令。

在已发布的紧急命令中，80% 针对的是男性犯罪者——其中 30 至 49 岁年龄段的犯罪者占比最大。

受害幸存者的配偶占已签发命令的 674 份，即 59%。

其余的命令涉及其他家庭关系，包括父母（154）、子女（141）、兄弟姐妹（138）、亲属（31）和前配偶（13）。

无国界医生组织表示，目前尚无数据统计有多少紧急保护令之后又有多少人申请了更长期的个人保护令。

新加坡警察部队（SPF）发言人告诉亚洲新闻台（CNA），违反紧急命令（包括家庭驱逐令、禁止接近令或禁止接触令）属于可逮捕的罪行。

新加坡警察部队表示：“警方严肃对待有关涉嫌违反紧急命令的举报，如有理由怀疑已发生违法行为，将进行调查，并在必要时咨询总检察署。”

无国界医生组织在报告中指出，去年近11000人参与了旨在提高公众对如何识别和应对暴力行为认识的宣传活动。这些活动包括巡回宣讲会、讲座、研讨会、论坛和其他宣传活动。

社会服务机构 Montfort Care 的综合家庭服务主管 Kevin See 先生表示，必须继续开展公众教育，以便人们能够识别胁迫控制的早期迹象并寻求帮助。

他还强调了危机过后家庭面临的挑战，因为情感和实际方面的担忧可能会阻止受害者采取进一步行动。

See 先生说：“危机过后，家庭往往会进入一段平静期，这段时期通常被称为暴力循环中的‘蜜月期’，在这个时期，人们会互相道歉，希望也会重新出现。”

“选择不采取进一步的法律或警方行动很少是出于否认；这通常是出于经济依赖、害怕家庭破裂或担心孩子的福祉。”

蒙特福特关怀中心通常会为家庭提供 12 至 14 个月的支持，帮助他们找到安全的住所，重建信心并与社区服务建立联系。

“我们的目标是为家庭提供他们所需的工具和稳定环境，让他们再次感到真正的安全，” See 先生说。

“轻声细语的心”组织的 Tee 女士也强调，从家庭暴力中恢复需要时间，受害者没有统一的恢复时间表。

她表示，长期支持可能包括咨询、育儿支持、经济援助和转介至专业服务机构，而针对遭受暴力侵害儿童的干预措施则侧重于他们的安全和福祉。

她补充说：“我们的目标不仅是解决眼前的安全问题，还要加强支持系统，增强韧性和自主性，帮助家庭在长期内保持安全、稳定和幸福。”

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