The civil law intends to restrict parents from indiscriminate punishment. According to polls released by parent groups, 70% of them are against it.

(Provided by the National Church League)

[Reporter Yang Mianjie/Taipei Report] The Ministry of Justice intends to amend the civil law to limit parental disciplinary rights, which has sparked discussions. The National Education Action Alliance released a poll today stating that more than 70% of parents oppose this amendment, and condemn the law. Parents' rights call on the government to face up to family and parenting education and invest resources. Parent groups are also invited to participate in the revision of the law.

The Ministry of Justice announced the draft amendment to Article 1085 of the Civil Code on the 14th of this month, and proposed to change the original article "Parents may discipline their children to the extent necessary" to "Parents should take into account the age and developmental children's personality, and shall not be physically or mentally violent towards children."

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The National Education Action Alliance conducted a questionnaire survey on this, and received more than 3,000 valid questionnaires. Among them, 70.4% of the respondents opposed the amendment, 74.6% of the respondents believed that the government did not attach importance to parenting education, and 62.3% of the respondents interacted with their children. Having encountered difficulties, 89.5% of parents agree that the government should invest more resources in family education to enhance parent-child interaction and family relationship.

In this regard, the National Education Action Alliance and the National Parent Group Alliance also strongly condemned the Ministry of Justice for hasty and rude amendments to the law, and the Ministry of Education for neglecting the rights of parents, and called on all sectors of society to pay attention to the reasonable right of parents to discipline them. , Do not give up eating because of choking.

Parent groups believe that the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) supports parents' right to reasonable discipline, never opposes the concept of positive discipline, and provides necessary guidance and guidance to cultivate children to lead a socially responsible life.

And as an adult, you know the difference between protective physical action and punitive aggression.

Parent groups criticized that the Ministry of Education has neglected its duties and family education has been neglected for a long time. Parents need to be empowered to guide and discipline their children.

The Board of Supervisors has repeatedly corrected the Ministry of Education’s failure to allocate family education funds in accordance with the law, and it also failed to supervise the operation and functions of the local government’s Family Education Advisory Committee. Later, the Ministry of Education increased the annual family education budget in 2010 because of the Legislative Council’s resolution. .

Parent groups also mentioned that the Executive Yuan’s Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Promotion Group, which is leading the amendment this time, is an example. Among the 27 members of the group, there are 5 scholars and experts, 5 representatives of high school students, and 7 representatives of non-governmental organizations. In the absence of representatives of parent groups representing children's rights and interests, it is suggested that relevant meetings and organizations should invite representatives of parent groups to participate.