A committee set up in Jamaica by the Parliament has recently suggested an amendment to the laws guiding Child Care and Protection. The amendment will see to it that corporal punishment for children will be banned completely.
In its submission, the committee proposed that any form of corporal punishment be stopped in schools, places of safety, as well as other institutions where children may be found. The committee was saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the following:
- Sexual Offences Act,
- Offenses against the Person Act,
- Domestic Violence Act, and
- Child Care and Protection Act.
The members of the committee in one voice declared that children should no longer be subjected to corporal punishment especially in places like boys’ scout camps, youth gatherings, schools, service clubs, summer camps, public places, places of safety, etc. They, however, agreed that it was important for a new policy to be developed before the ban can be adopted.
The committee recommended that the new provision is inserted in the constitution and a sanction in the region of a fine or whatever punishment the court deems fit to be applied to offenders.
