It is very normal for children to be spontaneous and with an unlimited desire to play and explore. Similarly, it is also a normal thing for parents and family members to try to educate children when their ideas of fun have negative consequences. The problem arises when this elderly intervention comes in the form of violence — physical, verbal, psychological or all simultaneously.
The situation turns disastrous when this violence becomes a social norm and when members of a society start treating corporal or psychological punishment as a normal thing or something that is required to correct children’s behavior.
Recently a video went viral on the social media showing a family member hitting children with a stick.
Instead of condemning the incident, people become divided over the issue. Of course, one group favored corporal punishment and the other called for an end to such practices.
It was a shocking incident that points to a deep-rooted social problem. In order to raise and educate our children in a better way, we need to seriously discuss this issue and the consequences of corporal punishment on an individual and the society at large.
According to the UNICEF, violence against children is becoming widespread. The introductory chapters of a study carried out by the UN confirms that “violence against children cuts across boundaries of culture, class, education, income and ethnic origin, and occurs in many different settings. Some of it is allowed by national laws and may be rooted in cultural, economic and social practices.”
This violence takes many forms that include sexual, physical, psychological and deliberate neglect. It could take the form of an intended attack or in many cases to discipline and educate a child. Insults, hitting, name-calling, isolation, rejection, threats, emotional indifference and belittling are all forms of violence that damage a child, causing life-long psychological scars.
The number of recorded cases of violence against children in the Kingdom is scary. According to a report published in Al-Eqtasidyah in 2013, the percentage of physical violence against kids as young as 5 is 32, for kids between 5-10 years it comes at 27 percent, for kids between 10-15 it is 27 percent, and 15 percent for teenagers up to 18 years. In other words, about one-third Saudis are subjected to some sort of physical violence. Given that we are talking about reported cases here, think how horrifying it would be if we included the undetected ones.
In another study that was referred to by a report published by Zmzm, a non-profit organization in the Kingdom, psychological violence leads the way in the types of violence committed against kids in Saudi Arabia.
The different forms of violence take place at home, supposedly the safest place for any child in the world. This is in addition to other types of violence that take place in the streets or at schools, etc.
Perhaps, that is why we witness many people ready to manhandle others over petty issues. It is all about upbringing. As long as violence is considered normal at homes, we would continue to see people with an uncontrollable violent streak.
It is a deep-rooted problem that needs to be resolved at all levels. Having laws and regulations to protect children is a good step, but we need to make sure those regulations are implemented in letter and spirit to protect our next generation.
The situation turns disastrous when this violence becomes a social norm and when members of a society start treating corporal or psychological punishment as a normal thing or something that is required to correct children’s behavior.
Recently a video went viral on the social media showing a family member hitting children with a stick.
Instead of condemning the incident, people become divided over the issue. Of course, one group favored corporal punishment and the other called for an end to such practices.
It was a shocking incident that points to a deep-rooted social problem. In order to raise and educate our children in a better way, we need to seriously discuss this issue and the consequences of corporal punishment on an individual and the society at large.
According to the UNICEF, violence against children is becoming widespread. The introductory chapters of a study carried out by the UN confirms that “violence against children cuts across boundaries of culture, class, education, income and ethnic origin, and occurs in many different settings. Some of it is allowed by national laws and may be rooted in cultural, economic and social practices.”
This violence takes many forms that include sexual, physical, psychological and deliberate neglect. It could take the form of an intended attack or in many cases to discipline and educate a child. Insults, hitting, name-calling, isolation, rejection, threats, emotional indifference and belittling are all forms of violence that damage a child, causing life-long psychological scars.
The number of recorded cases of violence against children in the Kingdom is scary. According to a report published in Al-Eqtasidyah in 2013, the percentage of physical violence against kids as young as 5 is 32, for kids between 5-10 years it comes at 27 percent, for kids between 10-15 it is 27 percent, and 15 percent for teenagers up to 18 years. In other words, about one-third Saudis are subjected to some sort of physical violence. Given that we are talking about reported cases here, think how horrifying it would be if we included the undetected ones.
In another study that was referred to by a report published by Zmzm, a non-profit organization in the Kingdom, psychological violence leads the way in the types of violence committed against kids in Saudi Arabia.
The different forms of violence take place at home, supposedly the safest place for any child in the world. This is in addition to other types of violence that take place in the streets or at schools, etc.
Perhaps, that is why we witness many people ready to manhandle others over petty issues. It is all about upbringing. As long as violence is considered normal at homes, we would continue to see people with an uncontrollable violent streak.
It is a deep-rooted problem that needs to be resolved at all levels. Having laws and regulations to protect children is a good step, but we need to make sure those regulations are implemented in letter and spirit to protect our next generation.
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