THE care of children will rank high on the Subordinate Courts' agenda this year.

The rising numbers of children found neglected or abused, and those tangled in divorce proceedings have prompted a slew of changes to protect the young.

With rising divorces - from 2,673 in 2005 to 2,845 last year - more children are caught in the acrimony between their parents. About 4,500 children were such victims last year.

To spare them from being embroiled in their parents' conflicts, a new Family Child Court, which will put the children's interests before the adults', will be set up later this year.

Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong announced the new initiatives on Friday in his address to a gathering of 300 judges and court administrators at the Subordinate Courts' annual workplan seminar.

Too often, divorcing couples are more concerned about pinning the blame of the break-up on each other than they are about their parenting responsibilities.

The CJ noted: 'In many cases, the child is used by the parents as a bargaining chip to settle other issues.'

He wants the adversarial nature of the divorce process to move to a 'quasi-inquisitorial' one where a judge takes care of the proceedings from start to end.

For example, parents will not be allowed to file multiple affidavits blaming one another for the breakdown in the relationship.

Instead, they will be asked for their plans for their children and what they feel is best arrangement for them after the divorce.

Children Care Court to handle troublesome youths

Another initiative will see the setting up of a Children Care Court to deal with neglected or troublesome youths aged 16 and below.

The Juvenile Court will remain, but will handle only crimes committed by minors.

The courts have had to protect increasing numbers of neglected and abused children over the years. There were 114 such children last year, up from just 39 in 2001.