CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE JAMAICAN CONTEXT

Abstract

Research literature has shown that violence against children poses a serious threat to public health and exacts a profound toll on society overall. However, corporal punishment continues to be used extensively in many countries despite the United Nation’s call for its prohibition in all contexts in member states. Notwithstanding the significant progress Jamaica has made in advancing the rights of children, it is one of the member states in which corporal punishment remains pervasive. The purpose of the current article is to review the literature on the prevalence and scope of corporal punishment of children in the Jamaican context. In addition to presenting information on corporal punishment and its consequences, the article discusses the prevailing cultural dynamics and the debate surrounding the issue. Further, the article proposes strategies for addressing existing child socialization norms and beliefs about the efficacy of corporal punishment and offers suggestions to stakeholders regarding workable approaches to limiting the potential adverse outcomes for children and for society. It is presumed that legislative, educational, and media endeavors will be beneficial to reducing the incidence of corporal punishment of children in Jamaica.

Keywords

• Jamaica
• physical discipline
• corporal punishment
• violence against children