Story perspectives

Peace Workshop Highlights Harm of Corporal Punishment

10/24/2025

Summary

Story summary

Pushpi Weerakoon conducted a peacebuilding workshop in South Korea, highlighting the detrimental effects of corporal punishment on children.
Research indicates that physical punishment breeds aggression and fails to teach discipline, leading to long-term psychological harm.
Restorative practices promote empathy and problem-solving.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim supports regulated use of corporal punishment.
Education advocates argue for values-based discipline, and recent incidents in India prompt investigations into corporal punishment.

History

Historical Context

Sweden became the first country to explicitly ban corporal punishment in 1979, following a 1971 murder case that highlighted child abuse issues. This led to over 50 countries adopting similar laws, recognizing the psychological harm of such practices. Today, discussions continue globally, as seen in South Korea's recent ban and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's support for regulated corporal punishment, influencing child protection policies.

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Story summary

Pushpi Weerakoon conducted a peacebuilding workshop in South Korea, highlighting the detrimental effects of corporal punishment on children.
Research indicates that physical punishment breeds aggression and fails to teach discipline, leading to long-term psychological harm.
Restorative practices promote empathy and problem-solving.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim supports regulated use of corporal punishment.
Education advocates argue for values-based discipline, and recent incidents in India prompt investigations into corporal punishment.

1 / 2