End Corporal Punishment against children in all settings

"Corporal punishment is the commonest form of violence which children suffer, in all regions. And there are many perspectives from which to condemn it. The imperative for prohibiting and eliminating it is children’s equal human right to full respect for their dignity and physical integrity and to equal protection under the law.

Sometimes it seems that dwelling on other perspectives, other arguments, can actually undermine acceptance of the immediate human rights imperative for action. We don’t look for proof that domestic violence against women damages their physical or mental health in order to justify prohibiting it and ending impunity. It would be insulting to women to do so, and it is equally insulting to children to suggest we have to prove harm in order to justify extending to them the legal protection that we as adults take for granted from being deliberately assaulted."

- Peter Newell

Ending all forms of hitting children... Don't give allowance to physical abuse based on age. Advocate and inform of children’s equal human right to full respect for their dignity and physical integrity and to equal protection under the law. Spanking is a euphemism for hitting, it inevitably condones sexual harassment and disrespectfulness (Excerpt from P.Newell).

Recognize the risks:
• Emotional risks: depression, low self esteem, anger, lack of resilience, little self control.
• Learning risks: lower IQ, stress, anger, resentment, or fear of authority. • Physical risks: injuries, broken bones, even brain damage.
• Societal risks: poorly educated, angry, pent up young people causing harm to themselves, other children, adults, their relatives, or at schools.

To end child abuse, we need to stop 'spanking' (physically abusing) children! Rather than being based on brain research or child development studies, hitting/paddling/spanking is based on "cultural holdovers";
• Adults may have the misconception: “I was spanked. I’m OK.” Fundamental religious belief: “It’s God’s loving discipline.” * Spanking and paddling send harmful and costly messages.
•Normal childhood behavior issues are often judged as rebellious, shameful and bad.
• Our States are being robbed of needed money by paying for the high cost of child abuse in all its ramifications.
• States spent $20 billion on child Welfare Services in 2000. Less violence against children will reduce this figure enormously according to the Urban Institute.
• The US spent $2 trillion in 2011 on all health care costs...$1 trillion for violence-related healthcare costs.
• Lawsuits from parents trying to protect their children take valuable money and energy from education.
• No evidence exists that paddling improves student behavior. The opposite is true. We all want to end child abuse.New ways of raising responsible, strong, loving children are replacing hitting
• The most heinous things done to children are now illegal, but 85% of these abuses began with spanking and progressed from there.
• In the US, 33 states have abolished paddling in schools, and in the other 19 states, many individual districts have stopped it.
• Today many tested alternatives exist that teach self-responsibility and skills at making better choices. Therefore to end child abuse, we must stop all hitting of children.

For research and links to studies and for resources on modern parenting: US Alliance to End the Hitting of Children: www.endhittingusa.org Report Abuse: www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/child-protection-services 612-348-3552 www.co.wright.mn.us/383/Child-Protection 763-682-7400 www.anokacounty.us/632/Child-Protection-Child-Abuse 763-422-7125 If the child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or your local police department.