Abolish corporal punishment!
1989 was a landmark year for human rights. One reason is known to most of us: the fall of the Berlin wall. Another reason is perhaps less well known. The International Convention for the Rights of the Child was adopted.
Today it is exactly twenty years since the global community made this leap forward for the rights and wellbeing of children all over the world, girls and boys. That is certainly a reason to celebrate.
Tanzania has just made a similar landmark decision through the adoption of the Law of the child act, just passed at the last Bunge session. This was a commendable and essential move in order to transform the requirements of the convention into legal obligations for this country. Eventually and hopefully also into tangible improvements in the daily lives of all children in Tanzania – meaning half of the population of this country that are under 18 years, thus being children in the eyes of the convention and the new law.
When I received the opportunity – invited by Minister Margaret Sitta – to comment on the draft law on behalf of the European Union where Sweden now holds the Presidency I stressed a couple of points.
One comment was about the crucial importance of implementation. A good law could become a disappointment if not the right mechanisms for implementation are set in place. This should also preferably include improved institutional arrangements to coordinate children’s issues across sectors. The infrastructure for child protection should be put in place as well as some kind of provision for children to claim their rights. This will continue to be a key issue to make the law move from theory to practice.
Another comment was directed to the issue of violence. We continue to suggest that all possible efforts are made to address all forms of violence against children including corporal punishment. An important step would be to at least take this opportunity to prohibit corporal punishment in schools and other institutions. Corporal punishment is mentioned as significant obstacle to learning in the Voice of the children-survey. And I have listened to the children myself – hearing what too many need to suffer through, often having to experience punishment beyond all reason. A decision to abolish corporal punishment could preferably be combined with awareness raising including alternative forms of discipline.
My plea wherever I go is the following: Let us all stop beating our children. Let us all stop legitimising violence, so often turning into abuse against children being dependent on us adults – needing our support and protection. Let us all stop teaching our children that violence is what counts.
Whether corporal punishment will be abolished or not is still an open question. The Government of Zanzibar is now taking encouraging steps in the right direction. I hope the Government of Tanzania now after adopting this new landmark law strengthening Children’s rights will move in the same direction. Choose alternative forms of discipline and stop all forms of violence against children,
Staffan HerrströmAmbassador of Sweden