Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act enforced in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD -- Rules in accordance with the 'Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act, 2021' have been launched for the implementation of the law that aimed to put an end to corporal punishment at schools and foster a culture of non-violence.

The said act was passed in 2021; however, rules were notified a couple of months ago and they were finally launched on Thursday. Under the rules, corporal punishment is banned not only in both public and private schools but religious seminaries and in other educational institutions as well.

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ministry of Law and Justice, Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Pakistan came together for the launch of the 'Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Rules, 2022' at the Islamabad Model College for Girls in F-10/2.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stressed the importance of these rules in upholding children's rights and fostering a culture of non-violence.

Minister hopes the law will curtailviolence in schools

'Let us work together to implement these rules effectively and create an environment where every child feels safe and nurtured.' He hoped that these rules would curtail violence in schools. The minister also committed to writing to all provincial education ministries to follow suit.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar congratulated the stakeholders on getting the corporal punishment rules launched. He underscored that 'morals and values cannot be imparted through coercion or punishment' and remarked that this was a step in the right direction. 'The implementation of these rules from today shall serve as the building block in achieving our greater vision aimed at the well-being of our children - the ultimate future of Pakistan.'

Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and Parliamentary Secretary Law and Justice, Mehnaz Akber Aziz, who was also the mover of the bill, outlined the significance of the rules and their transformative impact on the lives of children.

'The launch of the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Rules is a testament to our commitment to ensuring children's well-being and upholding their rights. These rules will provide clear guidelines and enforce strict measures to eradicate corporal punishment from educational institutions and child-related settings throughout Islamabad. I hope this will also incentivise the currently...