NGO urges Federal Government to criminalize corporal punishment of children

A Nigerian student tied tricycle for being late to school.

The Federal Government has been urged to criminalize corporal punishment of children in the country. The Secretary General of an NGO, Centre for Legal Rights Advancement, Professor Bem Angwe made the call in Abuja at the launch of a campaign to end corporal punishment of Children. Continue Reading…

Professor Angwe who is a former Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, said corporal punishment of children was inimical to their wellbeing.

According to him, 6 out of 10 children between 3 and 14 years suffer violent punishment in their homes and schools with resultant negative effects.

He said corporal punishment remained a violation of children’s right to respect for their dignity.

Prof Angwe pointed out that 66 countries had taken steps to protect the rights of children through legislations by prohibiting corporal punishment.

He decried that 7 years to the targeted year 2030 of the sustainable goal to ending violence against children, about 80 percent of children in the country still suffer various forms of physical abuses.

“Nigeria as a country has demonstrated a determination to realize her commitment towards bringing to an end violence against children by the year 2030 through legal reforms and multi-sectoral responses. The Child Right Act 2003, prohibits physical punishment of children”.

In a remark at the event, a human rights lawyer, Mr Frank Tietie noted that Corporal punishment against children was clearly outlawed in Nigeria by the Child Rights Act, adopted by 34 states of the Federation.

“From the outcomes of research and personal experience as a human rights lawyer, I can confirm that the application of corporal punishment against children has negatively impacted society. This is because children who have received corporal punishment, ultimately grow up to become violent people. Therefore the present state of increasingly violent situations in Nigeria can be attributed to the institutionalization of corporal punishment against children. The good thing is that it has been made illegal but not many Nigerians are aware”

Mr Tietie appreciated Professor Angwe and his NGO for taking up the mandate to sensitizing the public on the dangers of applying corporal punishment on children. Continue Reading…