Violence in education is still too widespread

Every blow is one too many. The Federal Commission for Children and Youth Affairs (FCYA) sees an urgent need for action with regard to violence in the upbringing of children and young people.

Switzerland recently celebrated 30 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This convention stipulates the right of children to a non-violent upbringing. And yet everyday life in Switzerland is unfortunately different, as new studies show. Even if physical violence occurs less frequently than 25 years ago, it is mostly the youngest children who are affected and slapping is still too normal. In addition, two thirds of the parents surveyed state that they use psychological violence. Based on these studies, the EKKJ is now calling for the child's right to a non-violent upbringing to be more firmly established.
For example, the right to corporal punishment should be unequivocally removed from the Civil Code. Furthermore, specialists should be better trained in dealing with abused children and the Confederation and cantons should step up their efforts in dealing with violence in families.
The Commission has set out its recommendation in a position paper, which can be read here. This paper also states that «the measures proposed by the Federal Council in its report of 19 December 2018 in the area of
protection of children from all forms of violence (Chapter 5.3) are correct», but that «swift action» is now expected.
The position paper for reading and further information: www.ekkj.ch

Violence in education is still too widespread

Violence in education is still too widespread

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