National —
At 1:30 PM on October 30th, 2024, Thailand’s House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting corporal punishment against children. The bill, which now heads to the Senate for review, aims to promote positive, non-violent discipline methods for parents and guardians.
Mr. Sanphasit Koompraphant, the bill committee chairman, noted that while there was debate among members, a majority supported a clause specifying that punishment “should not involve physical beatings.”
Others argued this phrase was unnecessary, as all forms of violent discipline are in theory already prohibited under existing child protection and criminal laws.
Bangkok MP Sasinan Thamnithinan of the People’s Party argued against corporal punishment, highlighting its harmful impact on children’s mental and physical well-being and advocating alternative methods of discipline.
The final vote saw the bill passed with 391 members in favor, one opposed, one abstaining, and five not voting. The bill will now move to the Senate, marking a significant step toward safeguarding children’s rights against physical harm in Thailand.
There is no exact timetable for when the Senate will debate this bill and there was also no specific clarity on how the Thai government would enforce the law especially when done in people’s private homes without witnesses.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
