- Singapore is willing to consider chemical castration for sex offenders if evidence demonstrates its effectiveness, according to Home Minister K Shanmugam.
- Speaking in parliament, Mr Shanmugam noted that current evidence regarding the effectiveness of pharmacological anti-androgen treatments remains inconclusive.
- The minister's comments follow a rise in sexual assault cases in the first half of 2026, which included 762 instances of molestation and 261 rapes.
- Singapore is also exploring the expansion of background screening to cover more voluntary and unregulated roles involving contact with children.
- The nation already enforces strict penalties for sexual offences, including mandatory jail terms and caning, alongside a new sentencing regime introduced in July for high-risk offenders.
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