• Saturday, October 30, 2010
• Inter Press Service

Currently, three out of four children between the ages of two and 14 experience some form of violent discipline at home, according to a survey conducted by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF). The results of the survey, which was conducted in 33 low and middle income countries, were presented Friday during a panel discussion chaired by Marta Santos Pais, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.

The report, titled 'Child Disciplinary Practices at Home.,' is part of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), a UNICEF initiative to help countries improve their policies. Eight violent disciplinary practices are covered by this survey : two are psychological, and the other six are physical. The results show that 48 percent of children experience physical punishment, 73 percent psychological punishment, and most of them both.

Also, about 17 percent suffered from severe form of physical punishments. On the other hand, non-violent methods are more common; actually, most households use a combination of violent and non-violent disciplinary practices, according to the survey.

In March 1979, Sweden was the first country to adopt a law banning all forms of physical punishment or other emotionally abusive treatment of children. At the same time, pedagogical efforts had been made by governments to convince parents that violence is not necessary. This is the most difficult but essential work that has to be done to protect children, one of the coordinators of the survey, told IPS.

© Inter Press Service (2010) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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