Women’s Charter 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 11 · Offences Against Women and Girls
163. Women and girls in urgent need of refuge
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2019. 2 amendments in all.
Any woman or girl may on her own application be received by the Director‑General into a place of safety, or be committed by the Director‑General to the care of a fit individual, if the Director‑General is satisfied that the woman or girl is in urgent need of refuge.
Director‑General
“Director‑General”, except in Part 7, means the Director‑General of Social Welfare and includes any person who is authorised by the Director‑General to perform any of the duties or exercise any of the powers of the Director‑General under this Act;
Where the situation warrants it, the person in charge of any place of safety may receive into that place of safety any woman or girl who makes an application to that person.
place of safety
“place of safety” means any place of safety established under section 177;
Where the person in charge of a place of safety receives any woman or girl into that place of safety in accordance with subsection (2), that person must, within 48 hours of the admission of the woman or girl, produce her before the Director‑General with a full report of the circumstances.
A woman or girl must not be received under this section into a place of safety, or committed under subsection (1) to the care of a fit individual, after the woman or girl attains 21 years of age or marries.
fit individual
“fit individual” means an individual whom the Director‑General, having regard to the character of the individual, thinks competent to provide care and protection to another individual;
A woman or girl who has been received under this section into a place of safety, or committed under subsection (1) to the care of a fit individual, ceases to be in the care of the place of safety or fit individual (as the case may be), after the woman or girl attains 21 years of age or marries.