Abolition of Corporal Punishment
Keep schools closed one day to mark the anniversary
'No cane ever again' campaigner tells Nahid
Anti-corporal punishment crusader Sir Frank Peters met Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid recently and informed the minister about his "No cane ever again" campaign, says a press release.
Sir Frank proposed the minister that all schools and madrasas across the country be closed next month for one day to commemorate the first anniversary of the abolition of corporal punishment in schools.
“The main reason behind closing the schools was partly in tribute to the two honourable High Court Judges, Justice Md Imman Ali and Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif, who declared the practice unlawful and to give the pupils, teachers and parents time to reflect and instil in their minds that corporal punishment is wrong, totally unacceptable, and is no longer tolerated by law or society,” he said.
“Corporal punishment is mistakenly equated with discipline, to which it has no relation whatsoever. On the contrary, it is a widely practiced form of mental and physical torture in Bangladeshi schools that causes humiliation, irreparable damage throughout the person's life and violates the rights of the child,” said Sir Frank.
“Make no mistake, corporal punishment is the physical abuse of children that can harm their mind long after their tears have dried from the physical inhuman punishment they have suffered,” he added.
Sir Frank said his meeting with the education minister was cordial and fruitful, but the minister decided the schools would remain open on the first anniversary in 2012.
The Daily Star could not reach the education minister for his comment despite several attempts.
In response to a petition filed on July 18, 2010, the High Court outlawed corporal punishment on January 13, 2011 and declared it “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and a clear violation of a child's fundamental right to life, liberty and freedom.”
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