ISLAMABAD: Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc), in collaboration with MuslimAid, on Sunday commemorated the International Day to End Corporal Punishment in presence of educationists, representatives from Ministry of Human Rights and lawmakers.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child defines ‘corporal’ or ‘physical’ punishment as any punishment in which physical force is used to cause some degree of pain and discomfort however light. In geographic terms, only 65 countries have legally outlawed all forms of corporal punishment, including in homes.

The chief guest, Dr Mohammad Arif, director, Ministry of Human Rights, urged for the collective role of civil society, academia, parents and government in curbing violence through shared initiative by the Ministry of Human Rights, including a help line 1099 and a database where authentic cases are filed. He also invited civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide feedback on ICT Child Protection Act.

Nazneen Tabassum of MuslimAid shared that while the UN in Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child declared it a violation of a child’s rights, teachers continue to use these tactics to maintain discipline and get students to do work, even where it is banned.

“Pakistan is still struggling to stop the recurring cycle of violence; this is high time that the government take initiative to end corporal punishment once and for all,” she said.

Khalida Ahmed, educational psychologist and member Board of Directors (Sparc), shared findings of a survey conducted by Sparc with children of a selected school in Islamabad where majority of the children (93pc) during discussions said they felt embarrassed when parents screamed at them at home whereas more than half mentioned (65pc) that they felt ashamed when parents made them stand outside in the sun.

Data showed that only 47pc of the teachers believe that physical and humiliating punishment (PHP) is effective to discipline children whereas on the contrary, more that 58pc teachers agreed that PHP makes the child more aggressive.

During the panel discussion, Usman Marwat, DG Senate of Pakistan emphasised on the role of legislation to address PHP and acknowledged efforts of female senators and law makers in highlighting these issues. He lamented on the lack of tolerance that leads to an intolerant society.

Habibullah Khan, director of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), said that high dropout of children from schools/out of school children and adult illiteracy exacerbates the situation where the institute is playing a key role in tackling the issue through adult literacy initiatives.

Dr Rubina Fareed, former ICT member of National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) shared experiences during her tenure on use of life threatening and derogatory punishments to child domestic labourer(s) in ICT where children were either left maimed or have lost lives in the hands of employers.

Asiya Arif, executive director, Sparc appreciated efforts of legislators in the passage of Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act, 2021.

She said this act significantly prohibits corporal punishment at the workplace and in all educational institutions including formal, non-formal, and religious, both public and private, and in child care institutions.

Ishtiaq Gilani, chief executive officer (CEO) of UGood and coordinator of the Child Rights Movement (CRM), briefed participants of a two-month long campaign against corporal punishment to be initiated shortly by CSOs.

Arshad Mehmood, member SAIEVAC (South Asian Initiative to End Violence against Children) expressed concern over the society failing its children and not addressing root causes of PHP where the country can follow positive case studies of neighbouring countries.

Participants were apprised of harms of corporal punishment in schools and home settings through a role play by children of Saya school.

Dr Laila Khan of Special Education Centre for Physically Challenged Children (H-9) shared harrowing after-effects of punishment meted to children with disabilities.

Educationists Dr Afshan Huma of Allama Iqbal Open University and Dr Ghazala stressed on positive teachers’ training with mandatory role of educational psychologists.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2023