VIENTIANE, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Justice celebrated the historic ban on corporal punishment across Laos at an event on International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children, making Laos the first in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fully protect children from all forms of violent punishment.
Laos has curbed violence against children through enhanced coordination and preventive and responsive measures across various settings such as homes, schools, online spaces, and communities, according to the Lao News Agency report on Thursday.
The 2023 Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS III) highlighted a decrease in violent discipline, with the percentage of children aged 1 to 14 experiencing physical punishment dropping from 77 percent to 62 percent.
Additionally, the amended Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Children was enacted in August 2023 and implemented in December, underscoring Laos' commitment to aligning with the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children 2016-2025.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Kongchi Yangchue, vice minister of Justice and head of the Committee to Revise the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Children, said: "This amendment is a direct response to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's observations and our commitment to strengthening child protection systems in Laos."
He said the Lao government gives priority to child protection by assigning the Ministry of Justice to revise and amend the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Children to ensure that Lao children are protected from all forms of violence.
The prohibition of corporal punishment is part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at bolstering child protection and addressing violence against children in all environments, including homes, schools, and online spaces.
Also speaking at the event, Arturo Romboli, UNICEF deputy representative in Laos stated: "This law marks a major step forward in creating a safe environment where every child is shielded from harm. We congratulate Laos for being a model to ASEAN member states and remaining dedicated to supporting the government and its partners in safeguarding all children from violence in all environments." ■