Don't pick on Samoa - Samoa's Prime Minister told child rights experts Featured
Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
23 July, 2018. Samoa's prime minister says the UN committee on child's rights shouldn't pick on Samoa but instead look at New Zealand.
Earlier this month a Samoan member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, said a law allowing teachers to physically discipline students took Samoa backwards.
"This law is a retrograde step. We're going backward. We were heading forward but now we're going back and this law allows teachers to physically discipline their students in a reasonable manner based on their judgment," Justice Vui said.
In his weekly radio interview Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the amendments introduced to parliament last month allowing the use of "reasonable force" in schools was in response to public requests.
Tuilaepa also confirmed receiving a letter from Justice Vui on the issue.
He said he had forwarded the letter to the Ministry of Education and called on Justice Vui to ask the committee why they were picking on Samoa.
The prime minister asked Justice Vui to convey that the same things occurred in other countries like New Zealand.
He suggested Justice Vui, a matai from Lano, Savai'i, should address the matter as a high-chief, countering the issue with the appropriate language to settle the matter.
-RNZI
1 comment
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The problem here is whether it is right to discipline ones children with a rap across the knuckle or not ? Its only just recently that Mr know all stated that smacking a child is bad . One must compare children that were smacked to children who were not smacked as a form of discipline , teachers used the cane or the strap and I for one am a better man for it . So ! was it a mistake than to smack a child as punishment ? and is there a difference in the behavior of the children now days from the children of the past ? One must also compare the present to the past . are the behavior and attitude of children today who are not smacked better than the children in the past who were smacked ? Are the crimes committed by delinquent now days less heinous than the ones committed by those in the past ? Punishment is good , given for the right reason and its administered with love not anger . The lesson here is to show that behavior out of the norm is not acceptable , therefore Proverb 13:24 whoever spares the rod hates his son , but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him . Proverb 29:15 the rod and reproof give wisdom , but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother . Regardless of what people say , disciplining ones children should be left to the parents and teachers , so long as its done with love and in moderation . The blame for all the short fall of young people today rest squarely on the conscience of Mr know all who is responsible for legalising same sex marriage once you over step the boundary of human decency all hell breaks lose . Shame on all religious leaders for being such HYPOCRITE , speak up for parents God given right to raise their children the way they see fit . GO SAMOA for having the gut to stand firm .