Say no to Violence against Children-Ackee Walk-Jamaica Ep 12

PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE - PUNISHING CHILDREN WITHOUT BEATING
Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence): Children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally.

Kingston’s house. Lorna is sitting in the living room watching tv. She hears Lucea calling from outside.
Lucea: Kingston! Kingston!
Lorna: shouts back Come inside Lucea
Lucea enters.
Lucea: Good afternoon Aunty Lorna, can Kingston come and play?
Lorna: I’m sorry sweetie, Kingston is having a timeout. He was being very naughty today and didn’t want to clean his room, so I had to punish him. – looks up at the clock- He has 20 minutes to go but you can stay with me until he is ready.
Lucea: Okay Aunty.
5 seconds
Lorna: I’m sure you’re a good girl who does all of her chores so you don’t get into trouble.
Lucea: Yes Aunty, sometimes I don’t want to do them but Nana reminds me that chores teach me how to take care of myself.
Lorna: That’s true.
Lucea: giggles I’m glad that Kingston is getting a timeout. I hope he learns to do what his mommy says.
Lorna: laughs You’re too sweet my likkle Lucea. I’m glad he’s getting a timeout too but for a different reason.
Lucea: Why’s that Aunty?
Lorna: Well, back in my day, he wouldn’t have gotten a timeout, he would have gotten a beating. When I was little and I did something wrong, my mommy picked a branch called a switch from the trees outside and I would feel some licks on my bottom or my hands for doing something wrong.
Lucea: Really Aunty?
Lorna: Yes Lucea. That was how my parents punished us.. They didn’t hurt us badly because it wasn’t really about the pain. For my parents, it was the way they knew to teach us about learning to listen to them. We listened but we didn’t like it.
Lucea: So why don’t parents beat their children anymore?
Lorna: In Ackee Walk, it is illegal because some parents hurt their children badly, even killed them in trying to punish them. They were violent, even using metallic objects and leaving bruises all over their children.
Lucea: Oh no!
Lorna: Yes. It was just too much. Children have a right to be protected from violence, even if it’s their parents who are being violent against them. But that was many years ago. Ackee Walk parents are not violent parents, we know how to discipline naughty little boys like Kingston. We take away their tv, toys and games, send them to their rooms and don’t allow them to go out or have treats.
looks back at clock
Alright, his timeout is up now. –shouting- Kingston, you can come out now, Lucea is here, you can go play with her.
Kingston runs in. –hugs his mom-
Kingston: Thanks, mommy! I’ll clean my room next time!
Lorna: Good boy, go on, have fun!


TAG: Remember violence is never the answer. All children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, even if the person hurting them is their parents. See you tomorrow, on Ackee Walk.