Grappling with sexual abuse by family members
Sexual abuse cases involving family members in Singapore are rising, with many victims being under the age of 16. Advocacy groups emphasize that grooming often precedes these assaults, leaving victims confused and struggling with self-blame.
Why it matters
This highlights a critical social issue regarding child safety and the prevalence of domestic sexual abuse, prompting a need for better support systems.
The police said in most rape and molestation cases, the offenders and victims knew each other.
Listen Summarise Sexual abuse by family members often starts with grooming, leaving victims confused and blaming themselves for the assaults. Rape and sexual assault cases in Singapore have increased, with many victims under 16 and offenders usually known to them. Counsellors stress the importance of support systems in victims' recovery. AI generated
SINGAPORE – When male family members asked their female relatives to give them massages, the girls felt uncomfortable and declined.
The men would persist, and question if the girls loved them, until they relented. But, for some, one massage would lead to sexual abuse that lasted for years.
Advocacy group AWARE said victims who attended therapy sessions asked why the abuse happened, what they could have done differently to prevent it, and if they had done anything to bring about the assaults.
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