Mariko Kagoshima | Stop violence in homes to reduce crimes in society

In this beautiful island of Jamaica, there are still too many children that are exposed to violence, and sadly, violence has become a normal, everyday part of their lives.

As Jamaica celebrates the 60th anniversary of Independence and all its accomplishments, it is hard to accept that eight out of 10 Jamaican children are verbally abused or are hit by adults regularly. It must concern us that two out of three children see adults verbally abusing others and one out of five see adults kick, beat each other up, or threaten to use a gun or knife.

The National Commission on Violence Prevention reported this staggering reality that Jamaican children face every day. The evidence is clear. The consequences of violence can be devastating. In the most severe cases, it can result in early death. But even children who survive must cope with physical and emotional scars for years.

The commission was established by the prime minister to study the problems of violence in Jamaica and review the existing strategies to reduce violence, to make recommendations, and to specifically target behavioural changes in society.

Violence undermines children’s self-worth and places at risk not only their health, but also their ability to learn, grow, and develop to their full potential. Furthermore, a child’s exposure to violence has substantial inter-generational effects, where children who grow up in violent households or communities tend to internalise that behaviour as a way of resolving disputes, repeating the pattern of violence and abuse against their own partners/spouses and children. Beyond the tragic effects on individuals and families, violence against children has a massive economic impact resulting from lost potential and reduced productivity.

EVIDENCE BASED RECOMMENDATION

Consequently, the commission made the evidence-based recommendation to prioritise the prevention of violence against children starting from home as one of the critical strategies to address the overall high levels of violence that Jamaica is facing today.

Violent discipline at home is by far the most common form of violence experienced by children in Jamaica, with the majority of our children under 14 years experiencing violent discipline by their parents/caregivers on a regular basis and with younger children at heightened risk of experiencing severe forms of corporal punishment. Research has shown that violent discipline often stems from parental stress, lack of understanding of the harm it can cause, limited familiarity with non-violent methods, lack of social and support networks, strong beliefs that it is a necessary part of children’s upbringing, and social norms that generally support or tolerate violence.

As shown in the UNICEF supported research on the impact of COVID-19 on children, the pandemic further exacerbated the level of violence to which children are exposed. School closures, movement restrictions, and economic uncertainties have contributed to increases in levels of stress and anxiety among caregivers, which, in turn, has led to an increase in the use of violent discipline at home. Even at the very early stage of the pandemic, over 40 per cent of parents admitted that the frequency of shouting, yelling, screaming at their children increased, while more than 15 per cent of them said that the frequency of spanking, hitting, and slapping their children increased.

A legal ban on corporal punishment is a critical step that the Government can take to protect children and prevent violence against children and violence in general. It sends a clear message that it is no longer acceptable to use violence in raising and educating our children. Since Sweden legally prohibited corporal punishment in 1966, 62 additional countries across the world have already achieved the full prohibition, including countries such as France, Mexico, Japan, Kenya, and South Africa. Jamaica is on track to become the first Caribbean country to achieve it.

At UNICEF, we welcome and fully support the prime minister’s call for the legal ban of corporal punishment in “all” settings. We stand ready to bolster the national efforts to make this a reality for all Jamaican children.

Mariko Kagoshima is the country representative of UNICEF Jamaica. Send feedback to kingston@unicef.org.