Singapore Open to Chemical Castration to Stop Sex Crimes If It Works

Singapore's government says it is willing to consider a medical treatment called chemical castration to help reduce sex crimes, but only if research proves it works. Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam made this statement on September 8 in a written reply to a question in Parliament. He was responding to Member of Parliament Gerald Giam, who asked whether the government had looked into ways to better protect children and young people from sexual offences.

Chemical castration is not a surgery. It uses medicine to lower the levels of hormones in a person's body that can drive sexual urges. Countries like South Korea and some parts of Europe have used this treatment for serious sex offenders. However, Minister Shanmugam said the evidence on whether it truly works is still not conclusive, meaning scientists and experts have not yet proven it is clearly effective.

Singapore already has tough laws to punish people who commit sex crimes. For example, someone who rapes or commits penetrative sexual assault on a child under 14 years old can be jailed for up to 20 years and caned. Someone who molests, or inappropriately touches, a child under 14 can face up to five years in jail, a fine, and caning. If the child was hurt or held against their will during the crime, the offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and caned.

The government has also updated its laws several times in recent years to make punishments stronger. In 2019, a new law was added to make it a crime to sexually exploit teenagers between 16 and 18 years old. In 2021, the maximum jail time for molest was increased. Most recently, a new rule called the Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection started in July, which means a dangerous sex offender can only be released if experts decide the person is no longer a risk to the public.

Sexual assault cases in Singapore are on the rise. In the first six months of 2026, there were 762 cases of molestation and 261 rape cases reported. That works out to at least one rape and four molestations every single day. These numbers show why many people are calling for stronger action to keep children and young people safe.

MP Gerald Giam had also asked about creating a sex offender registry, which is a list of people convicted of sex crimes. Minister Shanmugam explained that the police already keep a private record of people convicted of serious crimes, including sex crimes. This record is shared with certain government agencies, like the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Education. These agencies use the record to screen, or check the backgrounds of, people who want to work in jobs where they will regularly be around children.

The government is also thinking about expanding this background check system to cover more jobs. Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said the government is looking at requiring criminal record checks in areas that are not yet regulated by the government. This idea came up after two young children were sexually abused by a man who called himself a 'religious influencer' and ran classes at a mosque without permission. Minister Shanmugam said more details about the planned expansion will be shared when they are ready.