Impractical to regulate every setting for children, but laws provide 'safety net' against abuse: Goh Pei Ming
It may not be practical for the Government to regulate every setting or activity involving children, said Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming in Parliament on Wednesday (Sept 9).He was responding to a question from MP Yip Hon Weng on whether a registry and risk-based inspection regime would be introduced following a child abuse case involving young foreign students staying at a private educational facility."It is already an offence for a person to ill-treat the child if he has custody, charge or care of the child," said Goh. While he said that it is "not practical" to create a regulatory regime for every setting or activity involving children, he said the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) and other offences under the Penal Code provide a broad framework to deter against child abuse. "Parent should also exercise due diligence by making reasonable checks on their choice of service provider and monitor their child's well being," he said.