1) Singapore is a Party to the 1980 Hague Convention.

The 1980 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty which provides procedural guidelines on the return of children and their protection in cases of international parental child abduction.

Contact the Central Authority established in Singapore for cases of child abduction (operational languages: English and Mandarin).

2) Singapore is not a Party to the 1996 Hague Convention.

The 1996 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty which determines jurisdiction, applicable law, co-operation in respect of parental responsibility and access rights, as well as civil and public measures for the protection or care of children. 

You can determine whether countries relevant to your case are Parties, or not, to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and/or the 1996 Hague Convention on Child Protection in order to locate the appropriate central authority. As for the 1980 Hague Convention, you can check whether the Convention is in force between two specific States in the Spreadsheet showing acceptances of accessions to the Child Abduction Convention.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) provides financial assistance to low-income and needy parents, students, children and families towards healthcare, education, urgent finances, etc. The Ministry also provides family service centres which are staffed by social service professionals who assist families with their daily personal, social and emotional challenges. You can find regional family services here.

Care Corner Singapore is an organisation of service centres which provides programmes and services to support those facing family functioning and social functioning difficulties through Family Service Centres (FSC). Care Corner also provides Focused Intervention Services (FIS) which include counselling services that enable individuals and families to increase their potential as they navigate through life transitions and challenges.

The Children’s Society operates 11 service centres island wide, offering family services which support and strengthen families in need by working with them and their children through various programmes and funds.

PAVE is a voluntary welfare organisation dedicated to the provision and development of services against interpersonal violence and the first Family Violence Specialist Centre (FVSC) in Singapore. PAVE provides case counselling services, information and reference services, group work services and public education programmes.

Trans Family Services (TFS) provide counselling services to families on different issues such as financial, employment and career-related, marital, child management, mental health and parent relationships.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) provides financial assistance to low-income and needy parents, students, children and families towards healthcare, education, urgent finances, etc. The Ministry also provides family service centres which are staffed by social service professionals who assist families with their daily personal, social and emotional challenges. You can find regional child care services here. In addition, the Ministry has the National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation (NYGR) which provides development, prevention and rehabilitation programs to help youth-at-risk aged 12 to 21 years.

Care Corner Singapore provides Youth Services focused on developing and delivering relevant intervention, enrichment and support programmes by assisting and spurring children and youth in their growth journey to better learn, adapt and integrate into schools, relationships, family and society.

The Children’s Society operates 11 service centres island wide, offering vulnerable children services, which delivers fundamental care and guidance to children as to what parents and guardians should provide, and children and youth services, which offers value-adding care, nurture and inspire children and youth, to complement what their parents and guardians provide.

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) serves as the regulatory and developmental authority for the early childhood sector in Singapore by providing subsidies and grants to keep quality pre-school programmes affordable. You can find information on child care and kindergartens here.

Care Corner Singapore has created a Family Journey Programme which provides preparation and support to Singaporeans and foreign spouses on how to prepare for cross-cultural marriage and to overcome challenges brought about by their backgrounds.

The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) is a charity organisation providing counselling and employment support services to migrant workers. Contact their hotline for migrant workers or make a general enquiry here. 

The Migrant Workers’ Centre offers shelter and food in the interim while awaiting workers’ case settlement, provides pro bono legal advice and assistance to migrant workers seeking solutions against unfair employment and facilitates social acceptance and integration through outreach activities, community engagement, advocacy and public education. There are two centres located in Serangoon and Geylang.