End Child Cruelty, a new organization aimed at ending corporal punishment of children in schools and beyond by 2020 organized a walk under the theme “Walk for a Genuine Change” from Independence Square in Colombo recently.
President Maithripala Sirisena joined the walk as Chief Guest. Based on the negative impacts on children and their future from child cruelty globally, 131 countries including Sri Lanka have taken measures against corporal punishment in schools.
Despite the adequate laws against cruel forms of punishment in schools and studies showing its negative impact on children's future psychological well-being, corporal punishment continues in Sri Lankan schools. This is due to the cultural acceptance that physical punishment is the norm to discipline children.
Research has shown that the stress of punishment adversely affects children during their adolescence leading to aggressive and even worrisome behaviour as well as ragging in the universities.
According to Circular No. 12 of 2016 -Safeguarding Discipline in Schools, physical punishment in schools has been banned. The circular also lists alternative measures to replace corporal punishment.
The End Child Cruelty organization has taken into consideration all factors and organized the walk today to raise awareness among parents, educators reiterating that corporal punishment is not an acceptable mode of punishment as it harms children when they enter society as adults.
Otara Gunawardena of End Child Cruelty handed over a communication with a five-point resolution and 3000 signatures to end corporal punishment in Sri Lanka to the President. Higher education Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, President of the End child Cruelty Organization Dr. Thush Wickramanayake, Dr. Tara De Mel, intellectuals and professionals participated at the event.