Adoption of Children Act 2022 · Updated to 15 Oct 2024 · Part 3 · Adoption Proceedings
36. Interpretation of this Division
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
In this Division —“emotional harm”, in relation to a child, means any serious impairment to the growth, development, or behavioural, cognitive or affective functioning of the child, and includes —
child
“child”, if age rather than descendancy is relevant, means an individual below 21 years of age;
delayed mental and physical development of the child;
a child assessed by the Director‑General or a protector to be of danger to himself or herself or to other persons;
protector
“protector” means any public officer appointed or other person authorised under section 3(3) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 to perform any of the duties or exercise any of the powers of a protector under that Act;
a child assessed by the Director‑General or a protector to be severely withdrawn, anxious or depressed; and
Director-General
“Director-General” means the Director‑General of Social Welfare or any public officer or other person authorised under section 3(3) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 to perform any of the duties or exercise any powers of the Director‑General under that Act;
a child diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner as having a mental health condition such as post‑traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression or psychosomatic disorder;“grievous hurt” has the meaning given by section 320 of the Penal Code 1871;“relevant offence” means —
registered medical practitioner
“registered medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997, and includes a dentist registered under the Dental Registration Act 1999;
any offence under Part 2 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993;
any offence under Chapter 16 of the Penal Code 1871; or
any offence involving the causing of bodily injury to a child.
“emotional harm”, in relation to a child, means any serious impairment to the growth, development, or behavioural, cognitive or affective functioning of the child, and includes —
delayed mental and physical development of the child;
a child assessed by the Director‑General or a protector to be of danger to himself or herself or to other persons;
a child assessed by the Director‑General or a protector to be severely withdrawn, anxious or depressed; and
a child diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner as having a mental health condition such as post‑traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression or psychosomatic disorder;
“grievous hurt” has the meaning given by section 320 of the Penal Code 1871;
“relevant offence” means —
any offence under Part 2 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993;
any offence under Chapter 16 of the Penal Code 1871; or
any offence involving the causing of bodily injury to a child.
Terms defined in s 2
child
Defined · s 2“child”, if age rather than descendancy is relevant, means an individual below 21 years of age;
Director-General
Defined · s 2“Director-General” means the Director‑General of Social Welfare or any public officer or other person authorised under section 3(3) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 to perform any of the duties or exercise any powers of the Director‑General under that Act;
protector
Defined · s 2“protector” means any public officer appointed or other person authorised under section 3(3) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 to perform any of the duties or exercise any of the powers of a protector under that Act;
registered medical practitioner
Defined · s 2“registered medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997, and includes a dentist registered under the Dental Registration Act 1999;
Part 4
Post-Adoption Matters
Part 5
Confidentiality of Children Involved in Adoption Proceedings
Part 6
Regulation of Adoption Practices and Processes
Part 7
Enforcement
Part 8
General Provisions
Part 9