Fresh calls have now been made for a complete ban on corporal punishment in Jamaica following the emergence of a disturbing viral video on social media which showed a woman beating her 12-year-old daughter with a machete.
The viral footage of the woman reprimanding her child caught the attention of the authorities after it began circulating on social media last Sunday.
The incident has since sparked a heated debate among social media users, with some claiming the woman was justified, while others condemned the mother as ‘wicked’ and ‘cruel’ for resorting to such extreme measures to reprimand the child.
Related: Mother charged with cruelty to a child after machete beating
The Child Development Agency has since called for a full ban on corporal punishment in Jamaica following the alarming incident, as they claim that incidents such a these largely go unpunished as it remains lawful in the confines of the home despite being banned in institutions.
According to the CDA’s public relations and communications manager, Rochelle Dixon, they will be looking at how they can fast-track the law to get a full ban on all acts of corporal punishment in Jamaica.
The controversial incident reportedly took place in Bath, St Thomas in November of last year, but only became public knowledge after it was uploaded to social media earlier this week.
