When it comes to using corporal punishment to train a
child, African parents take to whole cake.
The scientific research is pretty clear that spanking kids is
ineffective, if spanking truly works, then Nigeria would
produce the best children in the world.
Spanking correlates with various bad outcomes, including
addiction, depression and other mental health problems.
But spanking remains legal in most countries of the world,
including the United States.
Sweden was the first country in the world to completely
abolish all corporal punishment of children in 1979 and
since then 43 countries have outlawed spanking, and two
more are about to.
In Africa, six countries have been able to fully protect
children from corporal punishment by law.
It is important to note that while the children in these
countries are fully protected from every form of corporal
punishment by the law, they still get a good beating from
their parents and teachers as full implementation of the law
in these countries have remained problematic.

1. Togo
Togo banned corporal punishment of kids in 2007. The
Children Code of Togo considers corporal punishment a
breach of law. The Code also explicitly prohibits
punishment in schools and in penal and care institutions.
In order to support the implementation of the prohibition,
the government has taken a number of measures,
including: Launching the Learn Without Fear Campaign,
setting up a child protection hotline that any person can
use anonymously and many more.
Though majority of the teachers and parents still believe
that beating a child is the most appropriate punishment
and corporal punishment continues to be used.
Further work is being put in place to ensure full
implementation of the law and elimination of corporal
punishment.

2. Kenya
In 2010, Kenya proposed a new constitution can into force
on 27 August 2010. The Bill of Rights protects the right of
every person not to be subject to corporal punishment by
any person in any setting. If you paid any attention to the
previous sentence, you will notice that the rights apply to
all persons and all settings.

3. Tunisia
In July 2010, Parliament passed a Law amending to Penal
Code to remove the clause which provided a legal defence
for the use of corporal punishment in childbearing.
Prior to the reform, the Penal Code punished assault and
violence which did not lead to serious or lasting
consequences for the victim, but stated that “correction of
a child by persons in authority over him is not punishable”.
The new law explicitly repeals this clause, making it a
criminal offence to assault a child even lightly, even if you
are correcting the child.
Opponents of the amendment argued that it undermines
parents’ authority and could lead to loosening of traditionally close family ties.

4. South Sudan
On 14 July 2011, the Republic of Sudan became the 193
member state of the United Nations, having achieved
independence on 9 July of the same year.
South Sudan achieved full prohibition of corporal
punishment, though legislation prohibiting corporal
punishment was originally enacted prior to independence.
In 2005, the Interim constitution stated that “Every child
has the right . . . (f) to be free from corporal punishment
and cruel and inhuman treatment by any person including
parents, school administrations and other institutions”.
Prohibition was confirmed in article the Child Act (2008).
The child act protects children from capital punishment,
life imprisonment, corporal punishment, or group
punishment by chiefs, police, teacher, prison guards or any
other person in any place or institution, including schools,
prisons and reformatories.
After Independence in 2011 these laws came into force.

5. Cape Verde
Cape Verde has banned all forms of corporal punishment
of children , including within the family.
As part of article 31 of the Law on Children and
Adolescents 2013, which entered into force in 2013, parents
must, „In exercising the right to correction always keep in
mind the rights of children and adolescents to an
upbringing free from violence, corporal punishment,
psychological harm and any other measures affecting their
dignity, which are all inadmissible.”
Before 2013, corporal punishment was a criminal offence in
all public and private institutions under the Civil Code, but it
remained lawful in the home and other care settings.

6. Congo, Republic of Congo
Article 53 on Protection of the Law on the Protection of the
Child (2010) states: “It is prohibited to use corporal
punishment for disciplining or correcting the
child” (unofficial translation)
The government in its report to the committee on the
Rights of the Child in 2010, confirmed that prohibition now
extends to the home setting.

Conclusion
Though these bans are very difficult to enforce, they
regulate actions toward children in homes in which parents
remain the authority figures and are largely shielded from
public view.
The laws, give children a legal voice and send a clear
message to parents that spanking is wrong.
Instead of spanking, use gentle instruction, supported by a
strong foundation of love and respect, is the only truly
effective way to bring about commendable behavior based
on strong inner values, instead of superficially “good”
behavior based only on fear.
What is the most memorable beating you have ever received
from your parents? Let us know in the comment section below.


Tracy Malcolm

Link: http//www.giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/12/23/6-african-counties-where-it-is-illegal-to-beat-your-kids/

Nigeria will be the last to be on this list.

Not advisable at all..
'beating' in dis context might actually mean 'over use' of the rod.
Cos I dnt think any Good child can be brought up without the use of the rod at least once or twice + mouth beatings sha

Since it has not been in use from the on set in Nigeria, if introduced it will cause more harm than good.
When a parent tells the child go and buy this for me, a typical stubborn Nigerian child will refuse to go because corporal punishment has been abolish.

Pls dont allow my dad see this thread he will be annoyed

Choi thank God its not like dat in Naija.

Make dem no try am for Naija ooooo...I beg.
Rotten pikin everywhere even with the spanking!!

This won't be a welcome development in Nigeria because it will strengthen many children negatively.

Come to think of it, where would I have been without my grandma beating sense into me during the time stubbornness was my fore skin.....