LAHORE: Speakers at a briefing concluded that Pakistan is also one of
those few countries where legislation empowers parents, teachers and
other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a
means to correct the behaviour of under-12 children. They stressed the
need to amend the legislation to promote children’s rights and
discourage child labour and violence against child.
The speakers were addressing a media briefing organised by SPARC at a local hotel on Monday, which was addressed by SPARC Lahore Regional Manager Sajjad Cheema, Programme Officer Sahiba Irfan and journalists.
Sajjad Cheema said that punishment was a preferred and accepted method to tame children. “Unfortunately, Pakistan is also one of those few countries in which Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, (No XLV) empowers parents, teachers and other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a means to correct the behaviour of under-12 children.”
He said any state legislation could shape the attitude and practices of that society and hence an explicit ban on corporal punishment in all settings was of great importance.
Raising awareness on the harms of corporal punishment, he said, “If corporal punishment is eliminated from homes, it will support its elimination from all settings, and in connection with this, SPARC strongly suggests the need to repeal Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code.”
Sajjad said that keeping in view the importance of the issue, SPARC held a consultation in which parliamentarians, religious scholar, teachers, and representatives of government departments, civil society organisations and Child Protection Bureau were invited. “The purpose of holding this consultation was to support the amendment by way of Section 35-B in Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004, proposed by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, and to pressurise the government to speed up the process of adopting it as soon as possible,” he said.
The speakers were addressing a media briefing organised by SPARC at a local hotel on Monday, which was addressed by SPARC Lahore Regional Manager Sajjad Cheema, Programme Officer Sahiba Irfan and journalists.
Sajjad Cheema said that punishment was a preferred and accepted method to tame children. “Unfortunately, Pakistan is also one of those few countries in which Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, (No XLV) empowers parents, teachers and other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a means to correct the behaviour of under-12 children.”
He said any state legislation could shape the attitude and practices of that society and hence an explicit ban on corporal punishment in all settings was of great importance.
Raising awareness on the harms of corporal punishment, he said, “If corporal punishment is eliminated from homes, it will support its elimination from all settings, and in connection with this, SPARC strongly suggests the need to repeal Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code.”
Sajjad said that keeping in view the importance of the issue, SPARC held a consultation in which parliamentarians, religious scholar, teachers, and representatives of government departments, civil society organisations and Child Protection Bureau were invited. “The purpose of holding this consultation was to support the amendment by way of Section 35-B in Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004, proposed by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, and to pressurise the government to speed up the process of adopting it as soon as possible,” he said.
