Children must be protected

CHILDREN are our future. They need a safe environment in which they can be nurtured to grow into healthy adults, both mentally and physically.

However, corporal punishment is still being practiced on minors, especially in home and school settings, to discipline children and to teach appropriate behaviour. Common methods include spanking, slapping, shaking or caning.

Researchers have pointed out that physical punishment typically has the opposite effect, leading to aggressive behavior, defiance, less longterm obedience; it also encourages an acceptance of aggression and violence as acceptable responses to conflicts and problems. International human rights and treaty bodies such as the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Council of Europe have advocated an end to all forms of corporate or physical punishment.

In the committee’s view, “Addressing the widespread acceptance or tolerance of corporal punishment of children and eliminating it, in the family, schools and other settings, is not only an obligation of States parties under the Convention. It is also a key strategy for reducing and preventing all forms of violence in societies”.

Recently, there was a report of severe physical punishment by a teacher, who stapled a student’s ears (“Teacher under investigation for stapling student’s ear”, The Star, Oct 2; online at bit.ly/ star_teacher). This is a cruel and violent act against the child’s rights, and constitutes child abuse.

With reference to Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS’s letter published in The Star on Oct 7 (“When teachers abuse students”; online at bit.ly/star_abuse), the Malaysian Paediatric Association would like to reiterate that the Child Act mandates that the police act to protect children who are in need of care and protection.

The Child Act is a mandatory legislation that does not allow any amicable settlements by withdrawal of police reports.

And merely transferring a perpetrator of abuse (the teacher, in this case) is not solving the problem. In fact, we are exposing more innocent children to violence.

Though these adults may be mentally unwell and may need help, those who have done wrong should be held accountable. That is the behaviour that we want our children to live by.

The Malaysian Paediatric Association urges the police and the Welfare Department to ensure proper implementation of the Child Act so that children are protected and are not exposed to known or potential offenders.

DR HUNG LIANG CHOO President, Malaysian Paediatric Association