At the beginning of 2017, a baby stroller carrying a petition – “Let’s guarantee a safe childhood for every child!” – was marched into the Lithuanian parliament (the Seimas). The petition was signed by 32 253 people and 68 organizations advocating for a ban on corporal punishment of children in all settings.
Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain to discipline children. A recent survey found that 60% of parents in Lithuania believed that corporal punishment was justified in some situations.
This was reflected in the law of the country, which, until 14 February 2017, allowed corporal punishment in care settings. While there was some talk of legislative changes, a proposed bill for the ban on corporal punishment was rejected in 2010.
However, everything changed in January 2017, when a 4-year-old boy was tragically killed at the hands of his mother and stepfather in central Lithuania. The nation was in shock and spurred into action. The child’s death was widely publicized, galvanizing nongovernmental organizations such as the Children Support Centre to make lasting change.
There were peaceful protests, parades, academic debates, interviews in the media and, finally, the symbolic petition to parliament.
Then, in September 2017, a new law on the protection of children’s rights was passed and the reform of the child protection system begun. Aušra Kuriene from the Children Support Centre notes, “The attitude towards corporal punishment is changing step by step. More parents accept and rely on the principles of positive parenting. The President has initiated a parent support hotline and the Children Support Centre is developing positive parenting programmes. Change is in the air.”
While there is still plenty of work to be done, Lithuania is one step closer to creating a safer world for its children.
Only 66% of countries in the WHO European Region have enforced bans on corporal punishment in all settings. WHO recommends legislation as an effective way to reduce violence against children and begin cultural shifts towards a society that values positive parenting instead.