UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE for the Eastern Caribbean office, Dr Aloys Kamuragiye, is calling for corporal punishment to be taken off the statute books by child care professionals to help create an Eastern Caribbean free of violence towards children.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural workshop hosted by UNICEF and the Child Care Board for early childhood practitioners at Accra Beach Resort, Rockley, Christ Church, yesterday.
“Corporal punishment is widespread, and used across the Caribbean by three-quarters of adults. Sixty to 75 per cent of children experience corporal punishment, so that’s really a challenge for UNICEF to make the change as soon as possible,” he told the media.
Explaining that corporal punishment was not a phenomenon specific to the Caribbean, he said it was a serious issue worldwide but UNICEF was determined to ensure all stakeholders worked together to get rid of it. (RA)
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