Dear Editor,
To date, 32 countries have abolished all forms of corporal punishment (CP) of children in homes and in schools. Below is the list of countries and the year of their ban on CP.
South Sudan (2011); Republic of Congo (2010); Kenya (2010); Tunisia (2010); Poland (2010); Liechtenstein (2008); Luxembourg (2008); Republic of Moldova (2008); Costa Rica (2008); Togo (2007); Spain (2007); Venezuela (2007); Uruguay (2007); Portugal (2007); New Zealand (2007); Netherlands (2007); Greece (2006); Hungary (2005); Romania (2004); Ukraine (2004); Iceland (2003); Germany (2000); Israel (2000); Bulgaria (2000); Croatia (1999); Latvia (1998); Denmark (1997); Cyprus (1994); Austria (1989); Norway (1987); Finland (1983); Sweden (1979).
Note that the USA is not on the list. This is because 20 American states still allow CP in schools and CP is not banned in US homes. The USA is the foremost country in the world that is battling to entrench CP. Therefore, I find it rather odd that some misguided souls would call the ban on CP an Americanised practice.
While other countries continue to advance and ban CP, Guyana still continues to debate this issue.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
