Other Statements sent to the Members of Parliament to ban Corporal Punishment (2013)

Open letter to MPs on CP
THIS is an open letter to Members of Parliament on the issue of
corporal punishment which they will be debating in the House tomorrow.

I petition you, the Members of Parliament, that legislation be passed
to abolish corporal punishment of children in schools, homes and all
other child-care institutions.

The following are the reasons for abolishing corporal punishment:

1. Article 141 (1) of our Constitution guarantees: "No person shall be
subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other
treatment." Corporal punishment of children is inhuman and degrading
punishment.

2. Guyana is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child which has recommended that corporal punishment of
children be prohibited by law.

3. Corporal punishment of children is an assault on their persons.
Children, like adults, have the fundamental human right to be
protected from assault on their persons.

4. Corporal punishment inflicts physiological and psychological harm
on children.

5. Children who experience corporal punishment tend to become abusive
spouses and parents.

6. Severely punished children tend to become violent adults and criminals.

7. Children who experience corporal punishment are likely to become
adults who condone acts of violence, even though they may not
participate in violence.

8. Severe corporal punishment is linked with juvenile delinquency,
indiscipline and poor academic performance.

9. Corporal punishment of children is the root of all forms of adult violence.

10. The continuance of corporal punishment will leave the door open
for out-of-control care-givers to abuse and violate children.

If corporal punishment is abolished, then the top ten benefits likely
to result are:

[From Dr. Murray Straus, Beating the Devil Out Of Them, Lexington Books, 1994]

1. Better behaved children

2. Less stress for parents and children, fewer problems, therefore
easier job of parenting

3. Less juvenile delinquency

4. When grown, children will not likely abuse their spouses and
children; fewer violent marriages

5. Family members will be happier with each other, closer bonding
between parents and children

6. Less alienation, depression, and suicidal tendencies among citizens

7. Lower crime rates, fewer violent crimes

8. Less public moneys expended to control and treat crime and mental illness

9. More caring and humane citizenry, improved general health

10. Increased economic production, and increased wealth.

Cyprus, in 1994, and Israel, in 2000, in the midst of their ethnic
conflicts, acted decisively to abolish all forms of corporal
punishment. Ten other nations have completely abolished corporal
punishment.

Your Excellencies, you have committed yourselves to genuine
educational reform. I beseech you to fulfil that commitment by taking
the leadership role in assuring the right of every Guyanese child to
be safe from the institutionalised violence of corporal punishment.
MICHAEL LESTER XIU QUAN-BALGOBIND- HACKETT

From Guyana Human Rights Association
Dear Member of Parliament,

The Guyana Human Rights Association(GHRA) has noted that the National
Assembly will debate a Motion calling for the abolition of corporal
punishment on Thursday December 7 2006. There are no respectable arguments
left for retaining corporal punishment in our schools.

While we are unaware of the details of the Motion, it clearly provides an
opportunity for the National Assembly to provide political leadership for
the country by removing a shameful practice from the statute books. We trust
the opportunity will not be lost by placing partisan considerations, much
less pandering to fundamentalists, above the health, welfare and physical
and emotional integrity of our children.

The attached pages summarize the arguments and recent history of the
abolition debate in Guyana.

With Best Wishes,

Sincerely yours,

(signature)
Vidushi Persaud
Executive Secretary
Guyana Human Rights Association
(The document is attached)