Surge in Corporal Punishment Raises Alarm Among Afghan Families and Activists

Reports indicate a troubling rise in corporal punishment and physical abuse of students in Afghanistan’s schools and religious education centers. This alarming situation is causing serious concern among families and child rights activists.

Growing Incidence of Physical Punishment in Afghan Schools

Recently, multiple reports have emerged detailing instances of corporal punishment and violent discipline being applied to students in various schools and religious education centers across the country. This trend has sparked widespread alarm among families and child rights advocates. Residents from different provinces, particularly Nangarhar, Kunar, and Herat, have voiced significant worries regarding teacher violence, stressing that such actions diminish children’s motivation to pursue their education.

In a recent incident, the family of an eight-year-old in the Tor Kham district of Nangarhar reported that their child was beaten with a pipe by a teacher, leading the child to refuse to attend school. Additionally, some residents from other provinces remarked that physical punishment, especially in religious centers and educational institutions, continues to pose a serious challenge, with potential irreversible harm to children’s mental well-being if unaddressed.

Responses to the Current Situation and Human Rights Concerns

In light of various videos showcasing the mistreatment and torture of students in Kandahar and Badakhshan provinces, families and human rights activists have intensified their protests. Although local Taliban officials have reported the arrest of several individuals linked to these cases, spokespeople from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice have yet to provide media explanations about their oversight methods.

Human rights activists have criticized the continuation of this situation, arguing that corporal punishment is contrary to human dignity, religious teachings, and international laws. Miran Abdul Wahid Sadat, head of the Afghanistan National Lawyers Association, and Fahim Farokh, a member of the Human Rights Union, have emphasized the need for a safe and fear-free environment for the growth and creativity of children, asserting that physical punishment should be classified as a crime.

Concerning Statistics on Physical Violence in Schools

International organizations, including UNICEF and the World Health Organization, have also sounded alarms regarding the negative psychological and physical effects stemming from student abuse. According to UNICEF data from 2021, approximately 35.5 percent of teachers in Afghanistan admitted to using physical violence to maintain order in classrooms. This statistic highlights the severity of the crisis and the urgent need for intervention.