Estonia to ban corporal punishment for children

(TALLINN) - Estonian authorities are planning to ban corporal punishment for children, a wide-spread practice in the former Soviet republic in the Baltics which is now a member of the European Union.

"The ban that forbids any physical violence against children will be included in the child rights protection law," Mari Kalkun, head of the newly created department of children and families at Estonia's social ministry, told reporters on Wednesday.

"The aim of the ban is to make the lives of both children and parents easier -- parents, who are confused whether and how to punish a child, will know that beating kids is forbidden," Kalkun said.

The blanket ban has raised some doubts even among the country's most committed child rights activists.

"But I confess honestly that when a little child rushes to a hot cooking stove, I use force to keep him out of danger," Liisa Pakosta, herself a member of the board of the Estonian Union for Child Welfare and mother of four, told reporters.

"Sometimes a little slap might be better for a child than long nagging," she said.

The debate about giving up out-dated child rearing methods also includes calls to change the old Soviet-style teaching system which focuses on teaching children facts rather than encouraging discussion and self-expression.

A 2006 study by Estonia's social affairs ministry found that over half of Estonian children have experienced some form of physical punishment at home and that around a fifth of adults say they still think corporal punishment for children is necessary in some cases.

"Over half of Estonian children are under stress, they suffer from nervousness, have problems sleeping or are depressed," well-known Estonian psychiatrist Juri Ennet said on Wednesday.

He called on Estonians to change their Soviet-style child-raising methods not only at homes but also at school.