Children’s rights activists on Friday urged MPs to push through a Bill that will ban corporal punishment of children, saying it was vital that children be protected from violence.
The social development portfolio committee on Thursday postponed deliberations on the measure after members of the African National Congress’s parliamentary caucus reportedly objected to the ban.
The committee has agreed on all the other clauses of the Children’s Amendment Bill.
”It is disappointing that the decision was not taken [on Thursday],” said Nokuku Sipuka of the Mthatha Child Abuse Resource Centre.
”The provisions are critical to protect children from high rates of violence against them.”
Paula Proudlock of the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town said the prohibition on corporal punishment was part of a bigger package in the Bill to change the culture of violence against children.
”It is important that the Bill not be delayed at this time,” she said.
Samantha Waterhouse of child rights group Rapcan said it was important that political parties be guided on the imperative to protect children from harm and not by the need to get votes.
”We are mindful that children can’t vote,” she said.
The committee’s deliberations on the Bill this week coincided with the international release of a message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, urging an end to corporal punishment.
”Millions of the world’s children still suffer from humiliating acts of violence and these violations of their rights as human beings can have serious and lifelong effects,” he said.
”Violence begets violence and we shall reap a whirlwind. Children can be disciplined without violence that instils fear and misery.”
His message was published in a report by the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, which said a total of 19 states worldwide had now banned all beating of children.
Two other states — Italy and Nepal — had prohibited the practice through Supreme Court rulings.
A further 17 states had publicly committed themselves to a full ban. — Sapa