CRY's views on punishment

Ms. Ingrid Srinath, Chief Executive, Child Rights and You says, "CRY believes that all children need to be free from all kinds of violations (physical & emotional) in all spaces. This belief stems from our recognition of children, though different from adults, have an equal right to be treated with dignity and respect. Any action that violates this and humiliates the child is a violation of the child fundamental right to life with dignity.

The view that sees punishing a child as a way to "correct" has a cultural acceptance which strengthens the existing hierarchy (& inequality) between the child & adult. Such punishment is act of violence and a message to the child that there is no space for any further communication. It is an adult statement that children are not capable or worthy of understanding what the adult knows, or what is good for the child. In learning/teaching spaces, the effort should be in making learning interesting and challenging than to punish the child for not grasping as they are expected to.

Once we accept that all kinds of "punishment" is violence, there can be no gradations in it as the impact of violence maybe have different impact on different children. What is reasonable for one may be fatal for another. The exception would be in situations when the child is in immediate danger of physical harm, or needs urgent protection, external force may be used."

CRY - Child Rights and You, India's leading advocate for child rights, believes that every child is entitled to the basic rights of survival, protection, development and participation.  In a word, to childhood. CRY has learned over 28 years that ensuring these sustainably is only possible when grassroots action is combined with community empowerment, active citizenship and advocacy