Children’s Right to Safety: The Problem of Corporal Punishment in Pakistan

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the child’s rights issue of corporal punishment. It is increasingly being recognized that children have the right not to be hit by anyone, including parents and teachers. Recent psychological research on the negative outcomes associated with CP is briefly reviewed. The extent of the problem of CP around the world is then illustrated. The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (article 19) makes clear that children have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse or maltreatment. Nevertheless, as of summer 2015, only 46 countries have enacted full legal protections for children from the risk of physical assaults. Even in countries with legal protections, children continue to be hit, though at a decreased rate than before the ban. The chapter will examine what is known about the use of corporal punishment on children in South Asia. This is a region of the world that has not received much attention with regard to the problem of CP. Specifically, we will focus on one country: Pakistan. The chapter will review what evidence is available concerning positive attitudes toward CP as well as the prevalence of CP in Pakistani classrooms and homes. We then examine the legal status of corporal punishment from the perspective of federal, provincial, and Shariah laws. Recent efforts at federal law reform will also be reviewed. The final section of the chapter will provide recommendations for advancing the protection of Pakistani children from CP and their right to safety.