A CALL FOR CHANGE IN HOW CHILDREN ARE DISCIPLINED

International Day to End Corporal Punishment

- By Sneha Henarathmudali

When Menuri was just six, she woke up excited to take flowers to school; it was homework assigned by her teacher the day before. But a heavy rainstorm made her lose it on the way to school. When she arrived empty-handed, her teacher didn't ask why. Instead, she hit Menuri on her hands and legs. That moment changed everything. Menuri went home crying and didn't return to school for six months. The fear followed her for years, silencing her voice, even when she was praised.

"I was terrified of adults, even when they meant well. I now realise I missed out on so much because of that fear," she says. Today, as a UNICEF Youth Advocate, Menuri speaks out for children who are still afraid. "No child should have to learn through pain. And no child should grow up scared to speak," she says. Menuri believes discipline should never come through violence, but through understanding, empathy and respect.

Nelson Mandela said, "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." Children are the future, curious, hopeful, and full of potential. As cited in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, anyone under 18 is considered a child, and they all deserve to grow up feeling safe, loved, and respected. Sadly, many still experience physical punishment as a means of discipline, which replaces safety with fear.

Corporal punishment is when an adult, be it a parent or any other authority figure, uses physical pain like spanking, slapping, or hitting to punish a child. These acts, although they are supposed to be about discipline, often leave deeper emotional and physical damage. Instead of teaching lessons, it can result in trauma and lead the children to believe that violence is okay.