Thinley Namgay

Paro—The ban on corporal punishment needs to be backed by a clear law to prevent parents, teachers, and caregivers from using physical discipline, though without resorting to criminal sanctions.

This was a key recommendation from the research “Ending Corporal Punishment of Children in Bhutan – Taking a Soft Approach”, conducted by Professor Wing Cheong Chan of Singapore Management University. He presented his research paper at the fourth international GNH and Law Conference in Paro on November 13. 

Corporal punishment is considered detrimental to children’s health, physical well-being, and education. However, a major hurdle is that corporal punishment of children is deeply ingrained and culturally accepted, especially in Asia, where only a few countries have banned it.

Professor  Wing Cheong Chan  said that while Bhutan has several laws designed to protect children, none explicitly ban corporal punishment.

For example, Section 214 of the Child Protection Act of Bhutan (2011) prohibits harsh and degrading punishment at home, in schools, or in other institutions, stating that “any corrective measure shall be culturally appropriate and in accordance with rules for disciplining children.”

Similarly, Section 23 of the Child Protection Act allows for the use of force or restraint when a child poses an imminent threat to themselves or others, but only after other measures have been exhausted. Section 109 of the Penal Code of Bhutan provides similar justification.

Professor  Wing Cheong Chan questioned whether teachers and parents in Bhutan are adequately trained to employ alternative forms of discipline, pointing out that the lack of proper training may contribute to continued reliance on corporal punishment.

He said that ending corporal punishment would require long-term policy reform, robust laws, and a shift towards positive parenting strategies that can foster better outcomes for children.

While many at the conference agreed on the need for reform, some participants expressed concerns about the practical challenges of abandoning corporal punishment.

One civil servant argued, “If a child doesn’t listen to both parents and teachers despite efforts to guide them, how should we handle such a child?”

He added that occasional physical correction for betterment should not be considered a crime.

This sentiment was echoed by some teachers, who felt that corporal punishment was sometimes necessary in the classroom, especially when students failed to engage with academic material.

A teacher pointed out that the pressure for academic excellence in schools often leads to the use of physical discipline, particularly when students are uninterested in traditional classroom learning. He called for more inclusive education, allowing students to pursue subjects that interest them.

Bhutan has made significant strides in promoting the well-being of children. Recently,  the country pledged to end all forms of violence against children at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Colombia.

Bhutan is also a signatory to the SAARC Convention on Child Welfare and the South Asian Convention on Ending Violence Against Children 2002, which provide legal and administrative frameworks to protect children from discrimination, abuse, neglect, exploitation, torture, degrading treatment, trafficking, and violence.