History of SAFV
Our Story: The Birth of SAFV
The Society Against Family Violence (SAFV) was born out of a shared conviction that the home should be a sanctuary, not a place of fear. Formally established on 9 April 1991, the Society was "birthed" through the collaborative leadership of Clyde Murthy, Esther Tzer Wong, and Benny Bong.
However, the delivery of SAFV was supported by the steady hands of "midwives"—pioneering feminists including Zaibun Siraj, Dr. Kanwaljit Soin, and Constance Singam. Working alongside leaders from the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), these trailblazers provided the advocacy and vision necessary to bring the Society into existence.
Pioneering Programs & Systemic Change
From its inception, SAFV recognized that ending the cycle of violence required a systemic approach. This led to the creation of the Men in Recovery (MR) program for men under Mandatory Counselling Orders. Developed in collaboration with Prof. Jeffrey Edleson (using the Domestic Abuse Project curriculum), the program was later adapted for the Singapore Prison Service by Benny Bong and Gerard Ee, an initiative brokered by then-President Claire Chiang.
Our impact extended into the halls of justice. SAFV provided the first formal domestic violence training for police officers in Singapore. Furthermore, our collaborative dialogues with Dr. Kanwaljit Soin were instrumental in the landmark amendments to the Women’s Charter, ensuring robust legal protection for survivors.
Public Education & Research
We believe that change begins with knowledge. Over the decades, we have published a spectrum of resources addressing often-overlooked topics such as Elder Abuse and Child Abuse. Our advocacy is anchored in rigorous data, led by two major research milestones:
The 2007 Study: Conducted by Dr. Suzanne Anderson, this research examined the adequacy of protection ten years after the major amendments to the Women’s Charter.
The 2010 International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS): A landmark collaboration between Dr. Suzanne Anderson, Benny Bong, and Assoc. Prof. Chan Wing Cheong from the NUS Faculty of Law, making Singapore the 12th country globally to utilize this extensive research tool.
View copy of the research here.
SAFV Chronological Milestones
1991 (April 9)
Early 1990s
1995 - 1996
Late 1990s
2000s
2000s (onging)
2007
2010
2021
2024 (February)
2026 (April 9)
Official founding of SAFV by Clyde Murthy, Esther Tzer Wong, and Benny Bong, with support from SCWO and feminist pioneers.
Implementation of the first formal domestic violence training for Singapore Police Force officers.
Collaborative advocacy and dialogues leading to significant amendments to the Women’s Charter.
Launch of the Men in Recovery (MR) program, adapting the Domestic Abuse Project (DAP) curriculum for the Singapore context.
Expansion of the MR program into Singapore Prison Service, brokered by Claire Chiang and led by Benny Bong and Gerard Ee.
Publication of a series of educational magazines and manuals focusing on the spectrum of family violence, including child and elder abuse.
Publication of the first major research study on the impact of Women’s Charter amendments, led by Dr. Suzanne Anderson.
Publication of the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS) Singapore report, a collaboration with NUS Law.
Celebration of 30 years of advocacy and the continued evolution of the Family Violence Dialogue Group.
Expansion of professional practitioners and return to active social work advocacy to bridge the gap in NGO-led social services.
35th Anniversary of SAFV and the launch of the Voices Unbroken digital storytelling series.
