Corporal punishment on children is assault, says Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya.
She said adults had been charged for beating other people but when it came to children it was considered corporal punishment.
“You cannot excuse corporal punishment,” she said.
“How can you allow corporal punishment or for a parent or guardian to hit a child which is clearly assault and not let others or adults get away with that because they are charged with assault.
“It is one and the same thing.”
Ms Tabuya was responding to several people who were upset by the fact that she had posted the viral video of an 11-year-old girl being abused by her father. “People were asking why I shared that video.
“The time is now and we must call out that behaviour. “We must be made aware that this is happening and that we have to band together as a nation to stop this.
“Those who were calling me out saying they were upset, maybe they are the ones who are for corporal punishment. Maybe they are the ones who have been doing this but now they are being put on notice.
“Now you know that it is a crime.”
