National Violence Prevention Commission Recommends Total Ban on Corporal Punishment, Prime Minister Reveals, Jamaica

A total ban on corporal punishment is among the recommendations of the National Violence Prevention Commission, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The commission, which was tasked with reviewing violence prevention programs and government strategies, identified gaps in prevention and intervention services. The Prime Minister announced two of the recommendations during a speech at Manchester High School on January 12. The first recommendation calls for a complete prohibition on corporal punishment, a controversial issue that Holness believes requires a societal reckoning on the use of violence as a means of disciplining children. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child defines corporal punishment as any physical punishment intended to cause pain or discomfort. The second recommendation aims to change the law and empower the police to respond swiftly to individuals displaying violent tendencies. Holness emphasized the importance of promoting peace in the country and urged Jamaicans, particularly the younger generation, to become ambassadors for peace. Ultimately, the goal is to improve relationships and cultivate a culture of peace in communities.