PROHIBITION OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN, GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN SERBIA

Abstract

The problem of corporal punishment of children occupies significant attention of general public and professionals, and also opens up moral, legal and political issues. In recent years, ideas about the introduction of a complete and explicit prohibition of corporal punishment of children have been strengthening globally. Proponents of the ban of corporal punishment are opposed by those who believe that the introduction of a ban implies a restriction on the right to private and family life and a reduction of parental rights, and also that the ban represents an attack on traditional values. In order to comprehensively understand the phenomenon of corporal punishment, presentations in the paper are designed so that corporal punishment of children is viewed from pedagogical, sociological and international law aspects, with emphasis on the reasons that speak in favor and against this type of punishment. The author has also tried to point out to the circumstances in Serbia, and to express his own position about the way in which the law in Serbia should treat corporal punishment of children.