Government approves amendment to ban physical punishment

30 April 2024 02:24 pm - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, April 30 (Daily Mirror) - The government today approved the amendment to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code for the banning of all corporal or physical punishments in all sectors.

A recent study conducted in relation to the Sri Lankan context by the United Nations' Committee on Child Rights revealed that a large number of children are prone to physical punishments, abuses and violence due to the lack of legal provisions prevailing at home, within remedial protection backgrounds, within institutions for penalty order implementation, and in schools.

A Supreme Court decision relevant to a fundamental rights petition filed by a student who experienced hearing discrepancies following an assault by a teacher has held the relevant teacher and the government responsible for violating the 11th statute of the Constitution.

It has been scientifically proven that a child may be physically or mentally impacted, both mentally and physically in the long run by such corporal or physical punishments.

Therefore, legal amendments should be introduced with immediate effect, covering any act falling under the cruel and/or daring physical and/or non-physical punishment category.

Accordingly, the Cabinet granted approval to the joint resolution by the President along with the Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister in order to take the necessary measures to amend both the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, including provisions for banning all corporal or physical punishments in all sectors.

The civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of a child have been emphasized by the Child Rights Convention, to which Sri Lanka is also a partner.

Statute 19(1) of the Child Rights Convention emphasizes that the government stakeholders shall take all appropriate legal, administrative and educational measures in order to protect a child under the protection of either parents, legitimate guardians or another person from causing all types of corporal, physical or mental violence, injuries or abuse, discrimination or negligence or disregard, differently treating or exploitation etc., including sexual exploitation.

Comments - 20

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 30 April 2024 03:36 PM

I am glad to be part of the era where corporal punishment was allowed. This was the era where respect, discipline and concentration towards one's goals was a standard method of imposition. That is why we were successful and country was successful. Now what do we have? Enormous quantity of youth fitted with incompetence's and indiscipline free to do three wheeler driving and crazy bus driving. The educated have no skills but only know to fib their way through issues. No wonder we are bankrupt. Dan Sapada!!!

Kumar soysa Tuesday, 30 April 2024 05:23 PM

Absolutely!! “Spare the rod and spoil the child”. Everywhere the younger generation is going from bad to worse. See the news about the chaos in universities in the United States and Canada. Recently a high school boy slapped his teacher and abused her but the school just advised him and dropped the matter.

BUFFALO GRASS Tuesday, 30 April 2024 05:30 PM

What are the examples of corporal punishment? Methods of corporal punishment include hitting, slapping, spanking, shaking, punching, kicking, choking, electric shock, confinement in small spaces, excessive exercise, and fixed postures for long periods. Instruments used in corporal punishment include leather straps, switches, baseball bats, and fists.

joke lanthaya Tuesday, 30 April 2024 06:13 PM

What a stupid move by the government! They should have looked into these matters on a case-by-case basis, rather than banning all forms of punishment. This is like Alles (public security joker of a minister) saying to use weapons to all the officers without thinking of its repercussions and how his stupid orders would cascade down the ladder to the boots on the ground. Some (I would even go on to say a majority) humans when growing up need the stick as the voice is not enough to tame them.

Krish Tuesday, 30 April 2024 06:26 PM

Which country are you talking about in terms of being successful? And besides it is being banned now. It's wasn't banned before. And everyone is who is running the country now educated under those punishments. It clearly has failed.

European Tuesday, 30 April 2024 07:31 PM

And I am glad to be part of this era and not the Middle Age era. I am glad we moved on and developed in the Western world.

Charlie Hebdo Tuesday, 30 April 2024 07:45 PM

So you are from the same generation as your todays competent and disciplined politicians, hahaha.

Gabriella Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:07 PM

Spot on ! It appears to be the fervent wish of these pseudo-intellectuals to turn children into indisciplined, morally bankrupt, and callous individuals, free to pursue a hedonistic lifestyle with total disregard for the rest of society. My children learnt from an early age the importance of respect ( which comes in many forms) and paid a painful price for any major misdemeanour. Their thanks today, confirm that it wasn’t a terrible folly on my part. Having the option of the “rod” is often a very good deterrent.

Some Controlled Corporal Punishment Needed Tuesday, 30 April 2024 04:33 PM

There must be some corporal punishment for recurring, notorious and severe cases if other means to address the issue is exhausted. However it must be initiated and carried out in front of their parents in a private room. As many can see, the current attitude with youngsters has changed and it’s prevalent in western countries. Look at the drug abuse amongst the teens, violent crimes, steeling and not respecting the elders is appalling. Some concrete action must be done if not in the next 5years onwards, SL will join countries having even higher crime than what’s happening now.

Dree Tuesday, 30 April 2024 04:46 PM

Implement this rule to in Sri Lankan police sector. Innocent people are getting abused by legal thugs which is the so called police.

Sandy Tuesday, 30 April 2024 06:28 PM

New methods should be used to discipline students otherwise they may go wayward.

Citizens Tuesday, 30 April 2024 08:11 PM

So happy about this piece of news. Most teachers, parents/step parents, adults are very cruel and go to unimaginable extremes when punishing children. it's not only physical abuse, verbal abuse must be banned as well. During sports practices, I have heard coaches using raw filth on children humiliating them, unbelievable!! Children should be made aware that they should seek help and where to seek help from, that's most important.

Shera Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:38 PM

FINALLY! I APPLAUD THIS GOOD NEWS. WELL DONE AND I HOPE THIS LAW PASSES WITH CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS WHO DEFY IT JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET THEIR FRUSTRATIONS OUT!!

Roisin Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:46 PM

Spot on!

European Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:45 PM

Corporal punishment destroys the spirit and self-confidence of a child.

Supervised Corporal Punishment For Extreme Cases Wednesday, 01 May 2024 12:54 PM

Both Europe and US are suffering from such changes as crime rates amongst the young are ever increasing. Some form of supervised corporal punishment needs to be carried out for those recalcitrant youngsters after other forms of mild discipline and counselling measures are exhausted.

DOT Wednesday, 01 May 2024 07:17 AM

A very good move. Better late than never.

Sambo Wednesday, 01 May 2024 09:28 AM

Our governments are very famous in make so many rules and regulations that hardly any of them are adhered to. Only on paper.

Concerned Wednesday, 01 May 2024 11:14 AM

There should be laws for children too. Children can be punished if parents and elders are disrespected. Obedience is a must not just do whatever they feel fit. Punishment and discipline works both ways.

Kalinga Sampath Wednesday, 01 May 2024 02:08 PM

If you cannot control a child with good instructions and love, you fail as an adult. I am wondering about the attitudes of some of the English speaking people in this country, promoting tribalism of child abuse

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Government approves amendment to ban physical punishment

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