|
The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) have launched a new campaign called Child Friendly Australia, which highlights the influence of adults on children. This coincides with the release of a national report which has increased debate about corporal punishment.
Campaign challenges
The Child Friendly Australia campaign involves:
- promoting child-friendly communities
- highlighting children's champions (‘individuals, companies and communities who have demonstrated they value children and share our vision of building a child-friendly Australia.')
- suggesting ‘child-friendly challenges' for individuals, communities and workplaces
- providing micro-grants to child-friendly initiatives (a list of the 2006 grant recipients is available on the website)
- ‘Kids CAN'—a program involving local businesses and the public in creating community activities that benefit children
- a ‘toolbox' of parenting kits, resources and links.
Debate on smacking
NAPCAN's campaign occurs at the same time as the debate over smacking has increased, largely in response to a national survey that indicates three out of four parents use physical punishments on their children.
The 2002 survey was conducted by the Australian Childhood Foundation and Monash University's National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The results were published in a September 2006 report, entitled Crossing the line.
The report emphasises that ‘No lesson should hurt children for it to be learnt' and recommends that:
- all state governments should introduce relevant legislation which repeals the defence of ‘lawful correction' or ‘reasonable chastisement' of children by parents
- state and federal governments should cooperate to develop, fund and implement a major national campaign educating the public about not using physical punishment with children, and promoting positive parenting approaches to discipline
- all sectors of the Australian community should commit themselves to respecting the dignity and physical integrity of all children and young people.
Crossing the line: Making the case for changing Australian laws about the physical punishment of children [PDF] is available online.
Public response
The issue of physically punishing children was debated on a recent episode of Sixty Minutes, during which NAPCAN's national executive officer, Adam Blakester, was interviewed. Shortly afterwards, Blakester participated in a webchat, responding to viewers' questions.
Somers asks: You have every right to offer your advice and express your feelings about this subject, but what makes you and your colleges have any right to attempt to impose your beliefs on other by requesting legislation.
Adam Blakester: NAPCAN is not calling for legislation, although other organisations are. Our view though is there always needs to be a low bar, below which police and courts have to get involved. NAPCAN's focus is, however, on the high bar, and on educating parents on the positive ways that they can discipline children without hurting them.
A video and transcript of the episode is available on the Sixty Minutes website, as is an edited transcript of the webchat.
Children see children do
To publicise their Child Friendly Australia campaign, NAPCAN has produced a television commercial entitled ‘Children see children do'. The organisation is calling individuals to watch the advertisement, make a donation and encourage others to do the same.
The advertisement is available to view online:
Donations can be made through the Child Friendly Australia website.
Early Childhood Australia's position
Recently Early Childhood Australia updated its Code of Ethics, which contains the following recommendations on the treatment of children:
1.2. Respect the rights of children as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) and commit to advocating for these rights.
1.6. Create and maintain safe, healthy environments, spaces and places, which enhance children's learning, development, engagement, initiative, self-worth, dignity and show respect for their contributions.
Recommended links
The following links contain further relevant information.
The full Code of Ethics is available online.
Read UNICEF's Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC)
The ECA Supporting Best Practice web directory contains links to resources that help in the implementation of the CROC recommendations and also resources concerning physical punishment and children.
Every Child article: Protecting children: The challenge for parents and early childhood professionals
Freda Briggs' guest statement for Every Child magazine (originally published in Vol.11 No. 3 2005).
Every Child article: Inclusion and support in the protection of our children's rights
Robin Sullivan's guest statement for Every Child magazine (originally published in Vol.12 No.3 2005).
If you liked this article, you can 'social bookmark' it with others who might be searching for good content on early childhood. This means you can share your favourite webpages with others, or just keep an online list of your bookmarks so you can access them on any computer.
Read more about social bookmarks
|
|
