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RESEARCH AND CHILDREN:Yemen |
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Children's views on physical and humiliating punishment
The following description of research into the experiences of corporal punishment by children in Yemen is taken from the International Save the Children Alliance's global submission to the UN Study on Violence, Ending Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children - Making it Happen, available at: http://www.rb.se/eng/Programme/Exploitationandabuse/Corporalpunishment/1415+Publications.htm
In research in Yemen by the Social Workers' Association, children revealed brutal forms of punishment, as illustrated by the following:
"They have been hitting me since I was seven. My dad cauterized me. I don't like to be burned and I don't like to be punished in this way..."
"My brothers beat me with a stick at home. My father beats me and jails me in a hot pepper store. He also hits me with a rope and leaves me in the hot sun for 15 minutes. My brothers, too, agree with my father and tell him that I misbehave and I have to be disciplined. My family treats me in this way for the first time and they'll do it with those who come after me."
Other views reported include:
"They must talk to us, with the tongue. God gave us the tongue to use it for talking. They have to discuss with us and teach us, because teaching during childhood is like engraving on a stone."
"Hitting is a backward means in the society. It's used by parents and teachers in a very brutal manner. This is not an educational means that cannot be understood by the mind of the child. Hitting is, therefore, not a good way for education."
"Hitting is an unhealthy way for children. It results in isolating the children and they go to the streets, which is not a good way. A good way is when parents sit up and talk to their children. Talking not hitting as a means for punishment."
"I felt that my parents hit me and I feel depressed and sad when someone hits me. I don't [see] why they hit me like this? Why? They don't have ways other than hitting? Why don't they deal with us by talking? Why don't they express their anger by talking? Why are they hitting only?"
"They treat the children of the teachers and the brilliant ones in a better way, better than us, and when we put our hands up and give a wrong answer they blame and mock us, they don't give us another chance."
"I don't like to be put in a critical position by talking and be criticised and blamed publicly."
The research found that children reported different coping strategies in different settings. In the home, children commonly sought help from grandparents. More girls than boys coped by submission, and more girls than boys seemed to run away from home as a coping strategy. In contrast, at school almost three-quarters of the children reported submitting when harassed. In social care institutions, the most frequently reported strategy was submission. Others included trying to escape from the institution, being aggressive towards peers, insulting teachers and supervisors, or repeating the behaviour for which they had been punished. Children who complain go to the director of the institution or to the social counsellor but most children stated they would only complain if the punishment was too harsh or repeated. Reasons for not complaining were children's belief that it is ineffective, that they do not know anyone who would be fair with them, and that they are "used to" the punishment.
In the studies examined for the SCS report [on corporal punishment in Yemen], more than half of the children exposed to violence at home expressed feeling anger and to a lesser extent frustration. There was no difference between urban and rural areas, but there was a disparity between girls and boys, with girls more likely to feel a desire to withdraw at home or run away to a relative. Children exposed to physical punishment at school reported feeling frustration, particularly girls, and to a lesser extent sadness and anger. A significant number of children reported depression. Far fewer reported anger, although a significant number of children reported the desire for revenge. When children were asked about the appropriate way of dealing with them at home and at school more than half expressed the wish to be understood and supported. In the case of schools, children explicitly stated that they wanted teachers to respect students. Regional disparities were apparent with more rural than urban children responding to the need for compassion and understanding, both at home and at school, particularly girls.
Of the reactions of children in social care institutions to the use of physical punishment, half felt that they did not deserve to be punished, because the punishment, according to children either did not fit the misdemeanour, was an inappropriate method of punishment or the punishment was thought to be too severe. There was a high rate of frustration and anger among these children.
There was also a high rate of depression, and in focus groups children reported that they felt suicidal and wished they could die.
Habasch, R. (2005) Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children in Yemen. Save the Children Sweden; The Social Workers' Association (2004) Children's Right in Protection and Security. No discrimination ... No punishment, Alhota, Lahij Governorate, Yemen: Department of Education, reported in International Save the Children Alliance, 2005, Ending Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children - Making it Happen: Global Submission to the UN Study on Violence against Children, Save the Children Sweden
International Save the Children report available at: http://www.rb.se/eng/Programme/Exploitationandabuse/Corporalpunishment/1415+Publications.htm