Children taking action
All over the world, children and young people are working to end corporal punishment and make sure that they are protected from all kinds of violence. This page of our website will tell you more about what they are doing.
In South Africa in February 2012, a class of 25 children wrote to a newspaper about corporal punishmentPunishing someone using physical force, in a way which is meant to hurt them or make them uncomfortable - for example by hitting them. by parents, with some of them calling for it to be against the law. The children had discussed corporal punishment in class after the Children's Rights Project at the University of the Western Cape called for it to be against the law. Read more. In June 2011, an issue of a regular radio programme made by children focussed on corporal punishment, after four young people who had experienced corporal punishment at school heard "rumours" that teachers were not allowed to use it any more. (Corporal punishment in schools is illegalAgainst the law. in South Africa). Read more.
In Uganda in December 2011, children took part in running local activities as part of a text campaign run by WarChild and Text to Change. Local community leaders, teachers and parents received this text message: "Let's join hands! The children ask you: What will you do to stop corporal punishment?" Read more.
In Pakistan in November 2011, over 8,000 children attended a "mega-event" at which they gave speeches and presented tableaus and poems about the need for a ban on corporal punishment to government officials and others. Some children created and presented a television talk show which focussed on issues including corporal punishment. Children also took part in running "Oath Camps" in public places, at which people make oaths not to use corporal punishment. All these events were organised by SEHER. Read more about the talk show.
In Ghana in July 2011, some children called for the government to end corporal punishment in schools at a workshop organized by Ghana NGOs Coalition on Rights of Children (GNCRC). "We want total abolishment of corporal punishment and a better way of disciplining pupils," a female student said. Read more.
In the UK in May 2011, a 13-year-old girl won the runner-up prize in a competition for young human rightsBasic rights that people around the world agree that everyone has. writers with a piece about why all corporal punishment should be illegal. Read her piece.
In Central African Republic in February 2011, children walked out of school during their lunchtime to protest outside the offices of a local radio station about the corporal punishment they regularly experienced from a teacher. The children had heard about the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA very important set of rules about how countries should respect children's rights. on the radio. The radio station reported on the protest and a reporter visited the school to speak to the teacher and the director of the school, who both made promises that corporal punishment would not be used in future. Read more (in French).
Search our site
Please enter a search term to begin your search.