Recent court decisions continue to shape how family violence is understood and addressed in Singapore, particularly in cases involving children. While physical harm has traditionally been the focus of protection orders, the courts are increasingly required to assess whether emotional and psychological harm alone can justify intervention.
A recently reported case highlights how these issues are being approached in practice, and offers important guidance for parents, practitioners, and families navigating high-conflict situations.
Courts Affirm That Emotional Abuse Can Justify Protection Orders
A recent report by Singapore LawWatch highlights how Singapore courts are increasingly recognising emotional and psychological abuse as a serious form of family violence, particularly where children are concerned.
The case involved a father who successfully obtained a Personal Protection Order (PPO) on behalf of his young daughter against her mother, based on sustained verbal and emotional mistreatment. Importantly, the court accepted that repeated shouting, threats, and degrading language could amount to emotional abuse, even in the absence of physical violence.
This decision reflects a broader shift in how family violence is understood and addressed under Singapore law.
Legal Perspective: Emotional Abuse Is Not a Low Threshold
Commenting on the development, Chong Xin Yi, Head of Dispute Resolution at Gloria James-Civetta & Co, explains that while the law now clearly recognises emotional and psychological abuse, the threshold remains a serious one.
Courts do not grant PPOs lightly. Applicants must show more than isolated disagreements or moments of parental frustration. Instead, judges look for patterns of conduct that undermine a child’s emotional safety, sense of security, or psychological wellbeing.
Ms Chong notes that the focus is often on whether the behaviour is:
- Repeated and persistent
- Disproportionate or excessive
- Harmful to the child’s emotional development
- Indicative of coercive or controlling dynamics
This careful approach ensures that protection orders remain a safeguard against genuine harm, rather than a tool for managing ordinary parenting conflicts.
Evidence Plays a Critical Role
One of the key takeaways from the reported case is the importance of evidence. Emotional abuse often takes place behind closed doors and leaves no physical marks. As a result, courts rely heavily on objective material such as:
- Audio or video recordings
- Text messages or written communications
- Reports from counsellors, psychologists, or social workers
- Testimony demonstrating the impact on the child
Ms Chong emphasises that parents seeking protection for their children should obtain early legal advice to understand how evidence should be preserved and presented, particularly where children are involved.
