World Vision, Unicef, Save The Children, Plan International and other entities propose that administrative sanctions be established by law in the country for physical punishment and/or humiliating treatment to prohibit this practice that affects the country.
This is a draft law on Positive Parenting that establishes sanctions according to the level of incidence and recurrence of this crime, which include verbal reprimand, the obligation to receive psychological and psychiatric treatment and the payment of a sum equal to a minimum wage, among others.
As social pressure and in order to place the issue on the congressional agenda, from April 6 to date, World Vision and some 11 organizations have collected some 10,000 signatures from people who support this initiative, which they presented in 2019 in Congress. National.
The goal, according to the representatives of World Vision, Johnny Bidó, Elieen Glass and Yokary Cruz, is to achieve 20,000 signatures and deliver them during a forum on child protection that will take place next June. That book with the signatures will also be delivered to the Chamber of Deputies. Bidó specified that the current laws, the Penal Code and Law 136-03 or the Minor’s Code, are aimed at serving sentences for crimes committed and not at the prevention and restoration of violent people.
He recalled the high rates of existing violence and that it constitutes a socio-cultural problem from which legislators do not escape, for which reason they must be made aware of the issue of “pela”. He visualizes a chain of episodes that generates domestic violence that affects early unions, teenage pregnancies and school dropouts. In children it affects youth violence, committing crimes and could end up in femicides.
Eileen Glass, World Vision brand ambassador, clarified that avoiding physical abuse does not mean the absence of limits and that it can be corrected based on respect, love and assertive firmness, “not with fights, threats, shouts and punishments” .
“Chosen” by a girl
Now a godfather will be “Chosen” by a girl through the program that will be launched next Wednesday, at 9 am, by World Vision. As explained by Yokary Cruz, Communications Manager of World Vision, with this program they seek that girls and adolescents, from 12 to 16 years old, receive comprehensive support and are made aware of early unions, child pregnancy and school dropout.
