3. joint statement on physical punishment of children and
youth la dÉclaration conjointe sur les punitions corporelles donnÉes aux
enfants et aux adolescents |
Whereas reducing harm within
families significantly reduces the costs of the health, social and police
services funded and delivered by municipalities across Canada, and
Whereas
there is strong research evidence that physical punishment places children at
risk for a range of harm that includes physical injury, poorer mental health,
impaired relationships with parents, weaker internalization of moral values,
antisocial behaviour, poorer adult adjustment and tolerance of violence in
adulthood, and
Whereas accumulating Canadian and
international research evidence demonstrates the link between children’s and
youths’ experience of physical punishment and attitudes to physical violence,
the use of physical punishment in families later in life and the use of
physical violence as a way to resolve conflict throughout life, and
Whereas at least 14 countries
have banned use of physical punishment of children and youth outright, a
further three are seriously considering doing so, and seven Canadian provinces
have banned use of physical punishment in their schools, and
Whereas the Children’s Hospital
of Eastern Ontario facilitated development of a coalition of national
child-serving organizations including the Child Welfare League of Canada,
Family Service Canada, Canadian Child Care Federation, Canadian Institute of
Child Health, Canadian Public Health Association and Canadian Association for
Young Children which has developed the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment
of Children and Youth, which, since its publication in September 2004, has been
endorsed by 223 organizations and 18 distinguished endorsers knowledgeable of
issues related to physical punishment; and
Whereas the Joint Statement on
Physical Punishment of Children and Youth recommends delivery of public awareness messages to inform all Canadians that
physical punishment is harmful to children’s development and is ineffective as
discipline; development of universal parenting education; and provision of the
same protection of children from physical assault as is given to Canadian
adults and to children in a growing number of countries; and
Whereas national, provincial/territorial and local levels of government, the
mandates of organizations, and the expertise of professionals who serve
children and youth have the ability to influence the issue; and
Whereas municipalities play a key role through Departments of Health,
Social Services and Police Services in educating citizens; and
Whereas municipal Boards of
Health, at least those in Ontario, are required to have Family Abuse Prevention
plans,
Therefore be it resolved that
Council request the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to endorse the Joint
Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth.
RECOMMANDATION
DU COMITÉ
Attendu que la réduction des méfaits
au sein des familles réduit de manière significative le coût des services de
santé, des services sociaux et de police financés et fournis par les
municipalités du Canada, et
Attendu que la recherche a fourni des preuves
solides à l’effet que les punitions corporelles font courir aux enfants le
risque d’une variété de problèmes allant des blessures physiques à la mauvaise
santé mentale, aux relations avec les parents affectées, à l’internalisation
plus faible des valeurs morales, au comportement antisocial, à la mauvaise
adaptation et à la tolérance envers la violence à l’âge adulte, et
Attendu que les preuves accumulées
par les chercheurs au Canada et à l’étranger démontrent le lien entre
l’expérience des punitions corporelles par les enfants et les adolescents et
les attitudes concernant la violence physique, l’utilisation des punitions
corporelles dans la famille, plus tard dans la vie, et le recours à la violence
physique comme manière de résoudre les conflits tout au long de la vie, et
Attendu qu’au moins 14 pays ont interdit totalement l’utilisation des
punitions corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents, et que trois
autres envisagent sérieusement de le faire, et que sept provinces canadiennes
ont interdit les punitions corporelles dans leurs écoles, et
Attendu que le Centre hospitalier
pour enfants de l’est de l’Ontario a facilité la création d’une coalition
d’organismes nationaux au service des jeunes, comme la Ligue pour le bien-être
de l’enfant Canada, l’Association canadienne de santé publique et l’Association
canadienne pour jeunes enfants, qui a formulé la Déclaration conjointe sur les
punitions corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents. Depuis sa
publication en septembre 2004, elle a été appuyée par 223 organismes et 18
personnes distinguées familières avec les questions reliées aux punitions
corporelles, et
Attendu que la Déclaration conjointe
sur les punitions corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents recommande
la préparation de messages de sensibilisation du public pour informer tous les Canadiens que les punitions corporelles sont nuisibles au développement
des enfants et inefficaces comme outils de discipline, pour développer
l’éducation universelle en matière de parentage et pour fournir aux enfants la
même protection contre les agressions physiques que celle accordée aux adultes
du Canada et aux enfants d’un nombre
croissant d’autres pays, et
Attendu que les paliers gouvernementaux national, provinciaux/territoriaux et locaux, la mission des organismes
et la compétence des professionnels qui desservent les enfants et les
adolescents sont en mesure d’influer sur cette question, et
Attendu que les municipalités jouent un rôle clé par le biais des
services de santé, des services sociaux et des services de police pour éduquer
les citoyens, et
Attendu que les services de santé municipaux, du moins en Ontario,
doivent formuler des plans de prévention de la maltraitance familiale,
Il est résolu que le Conseil demande
que la Fédération des municipalités canadiennes appuie la Déclaration conjointe
sur les punitions corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents.
DOCUMENTATION
1. Councillor Doucet report dated 20 April 2006 (ACS2006-CCS-HRS-0010).
2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 20 April, 2006.
Report to/Rapport au :
Health,
Recreation and Social Services Committee
Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted by/Soumis par : Councillor/ Conseiller Clive
Doucet
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Clive Doucet
(613) 580-2487, Clive.Doucet@ottawa.ca
|
SUBJECT: |
Joint statement on physical punishment of
children and youth |
|
|
|
|
OBJET : |
La dÉclaration conjointe sur les punitions
corporelles donnÉes aux enfants et aux adolescents
|
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
Whereas reducing harm within families
significantly reduces the costs of the health, social and police services
funded and delivered by municipalities across Canada, and
Whereas
there is strong research evidence that physical punishment places children at
risk for a range of harm that includes physical injury, poorer mental health,
impaired relationships with parents, weaker internalization of moral values,
antisocial behaviour, poorer adult adjustment and tolerance of violence in
adulthood, and
Whereas accumulating Canadian and
international research evidence demonstrates the link between children’s and
youths’ experience of physical
punishment and attitudes to physical violence, the use of physical punishment
in families later in life and the use of physical violence as a way to resolve
conflict throughout life, and
Whereas at least 14 countries have banned
use of physical punishment of children and youth outright, a further three are
seriously considering doing so, and seven Canadian provinces have banned use of
physical punishment in their schools, and
Whereas the Children’s Hospital of Eastern
Ontario facilitated development of a coalition of national child-serving
organizations including the Child Welfare League of Canada, Family Service
Canada, Canadian Child Care Federation, Canadian Institute of Child Health,
Canadian Public Health Association and Canadian Association for Young Children
which has developed the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and
Youth, which, since its publication in September 2004, has been endorsed by 223
organizations and 18 distinguished endorsers knowledgeable of issues related to
physical punishment; and
Whereas the Joint Statement on Physical
Punishment of Children and Youth recommends delivery
of public awareness messages to inform all Canadians that physical punishment
is harmful to children’s development and is ineffective as discipline;
development of universal parenting education; and provision of the same
protection of children from physical assault as is given to Canadian adults and
to children in a growing number of countries; and
Whereas national,
provincial/territorial and local levels of government, the mandates of
organizations, and the expertise of professionals who serve children and youth
have the ability to influence the issue; and
Whereas
municipalities play a key role through Departments of Health, Social Services
and Police Services in educating citizens; and
Whereas municipal Boards of Health, at least
those in Ontario, are required to have Family Abuse Prevention plans,
Therefore be it resolved that the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee recommend that Council request the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to endorse the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth.
Attendu que la réduction des méfaits au sein
des familles réduit de manière significative le coût des services de santé, des
services sociaux et de police financés et fournis par les municipalités du
Canada, et
Attendu que la recherche a fourni des preuves
solides à l’effet que les punitions corporelles font courir aux enfants le
risque d’une variété de problèmes allant des blessures physiques à la mauvaise
santé mentale, aux relations avec les parents affectées, à l’internalisation
plus faible des valeurs morales, au comportement antisocial, à la mauvaise
adaptation et à la tolérance envers la violence à l’âge adulte, et
Attendu que les preuves accumulées par les
chercheurs au Canada et à l’étranger démontrent le lien entre l’expérience des
punitions corporelles par les enfants et les adolescents et les attitudes
concernant la violence physique, l’utilisation des punitions corporelles dans
la famille, plus tard dans la vie, et le recours à la violence physique comme
manière de résoudre les conflits tout au long de la vie, et
Attendu
qu’au moins 14 pays ont interdit totalement l’utilisation des punitions
corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents, et que trois autres
envisagent sérieusement de le faire, et que sept provinces canadiennes ont
interdit les punitions corporelles dans leurs
écoles, et
Attendu que le Centre hospitalier pour enfants
de l’est de l’Ontario a facilité la création d’une coalition d’organismes
nationaux au service des jeunes, comme la Ligue pour le bien-être de l’enfant
Canada, l’Association canadienne de santé publique et l’Association canadienne
pour jeunes enfants, qui a formulé la Déclaration conjointe sur les punitions
corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents. Depuis sa publication en
septembre 2004, elle a été appuyée par 223 organismes et 18
personnes distinguées familières avec les questions reliées aux punitions
corporelles, et
Attendu que la Déclaration conjointe sur les
punitions corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents recommande la
préparation de messages de sensibilisation du public pour informer tous les Canadiens que les punitions corporelles sont nuisibles au développement
des enfants et inefficaces comme outils de discipline, pour développer
l’éducation universelle en matière de parentage et pour fournir aux enfants la
même protection contre les agressions physiques que celle accordée aux adultes
du Canada et aux enfants d’un nombre
croissant d’autres pays, et
Attendu
que les paliers gouvernementaux national,
provinciaux/territoriaux et locaux, la mission des organismes et la compétence
des professionnels qui desservent les enfants et les adolescents sont en mesure
d’influer sur cette question, et
Attendu
que les municipalités jouent un rôle clé par le biais des services de santé,
des services sociaux et des services de police pour éduquer les citoyens, et
Attendu
que les services de santé municipaux, du moins en Ontario, doivent formuler
des plans de prévention de la maltraitance familiale,
Il est résolu que la comité de la santé, des
loisirs et des services sociaux recommande que le Conseil demande que la
Fédération des municipalités canadiennes appuie la Déclaration conjointe sur les
punitions corporelles données aux enfants et aux adolescents.
BACKGROUND
On 20 April 2006, Councillor Doucet requested that the Committee waive the rules in order to consider the aforementioned Motion. After a brief discussion, the Committee approved the Motion, with Councillor Chiarelli dissenting. A copy of the “Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth” was distributed and will be provided to members of Council who were not in attendance.
CONSULTATION
No consultation was required in the preparation of this report. Dr. Salisbury provides the following comments:
Ottawa
Public Health joins public health and child health advocates across Canada and
the world in endorsing the "Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of
Children and Youth". We concur
with the conclusions of the report that state:
“On the basis of the clear and compelling evidence- that the physical
punishment of children and youth plays no useful role in their upbringing and
poses only risks to their development - parents should be strongly encouraged
to develop alternative and positive approaches to discipline. The implications of this evidence and this
goal are examined in relation to Canadian law, human rights and actions taken
by other countries.”
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
There are
no financial implications as a result of approval of the recommendation.
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION
Document
1 – Extract of Draft Minute, 20 April 2006
Document 2 – Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of
Children and Youth (distributed separately)
If
approved, the City Clerk’s Office will prepare a letter to transmit the
resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalites.
|
Health, Recreation and Social Services committee Report 32 extract of draft minutes 33 20
April 2006 |
|
Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux Rapport 32 Extrait de l’ébauche du procès-verbal
33 le 20 avril 2006 |
ADDITIONAL ITEM
Moved by C. Doucet
That the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee approve
the addition of the following item for consideration by the Committee at
today’s meeting, pursuant to Section 81(3) of the Procedure By-Law (being
By-Law No. 2005-431).
CARRIED
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN
MUNICIPALITIES - PROPOSED RESOLUTION REGARDING JOINT STATEMENT ON PHYSICAL
PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Councillor Doucet spoke briefly to the Motion and asked that it be forwarded to Council next week for consideration. The deadline for submission of resolutions to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) June meeting, is May 1st . A copy of the “Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth” was distributed to each member and is held on file.
Dr. David Salisbury advised that the Health Unit has previously endorsed this particular statement, recognizing that it is within their mandate to assist families in protecting children in accordance with the Children’s Aid Society and others. To speak to the science behind the Statement, he introduced Ron Ensom, co-author of the Joint Statement. Mr. Ensom, who is a social worker at CHEO, made the following comments:
- the Joint Statement is a review of the best science available on the issue and follows other joint statements that have moved across Canada and around the world on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Shaken Baby Syndrome;
- it has become an influential research document for Canadian professionals and for most of the organizations that are concerned broadly with the well-being of Canadian children; this document has been picked up by many other countries;
- many parents have had to learn how to teach children respectful social and effective behaviour; there are a range of ways of doing that other than physical punishment, which has proven to be ineffective and counter-productive;
- the Coalition is asking City Council to support what has already been endorsed by over 220 Canadian organizations;
- scientific research has been the basis for parents changing their behaviour with regards to their children: playing for extended periods of time in the sun; sitting unrestrained in motor vehicles; exposure to second hand smoke.
Councillor Chiarelli believed criminal code issues are a federal area of responsibility and he did not believe taking this position was within the mandate of municipal government. Councillor Cullen disagreed however, stating that the City invests a lot of time, effort and money dealing with children’s issues and are seen as leaders in the community and there are examples to be set. Councillor Doucet added that the police service and the City’s social and recreational services all deal with the results of violent behaviour. He believed the City’s endorsement and subsequent submission to the FCM would help to ensure that it can be used as a policy statement at the municipal level.
Moved
by C. Doucet
Whereas reducing harm within
families significantly reduces the costs of the health, social and police
services funded and delivered by municipalities across Canada, and
Whereas
there is strong research evidence that physical punishment places children at
risk for a range of harm that includes physical injury, poorer mental health,
impaired relationships with parents, weaker internalization of moral values,
antisocial behaviour, poorer adult adjustment and tolerance of violence in
adulthood, and
Whereas accumulating Canadian and
international research evidence demonstrates the link between children’s and
youths’ experience of physical punishment
and attitudes to physical violence, the use of physical punishment in families
later in life and the use of physical violence as a way to resolve conflict
throughout life, and
Whereas at least 14 countries have banned use of physical punishment of
children and youth outright, a further three are seriously considering doing
so, and seven Canadian provinces have banned use of physical punishment in
their schools, and
Whereas the Children’s Hospital
of Eastern Ontario facilitated development of a coalition of national
child-serving organizations including the Child Welfare League of Canada,
Family Service Canada, Canadian Child Care Federation, Canadian Institute of
Child Health, Canadian Public Health Association and Canadian Association for
Young Children which has developed the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment
of Children and Youth, which, since its publication in September 2004, has been
endorsed by 223 organizations and 18 distinguished endorsers knowledgeable of
issues related to physical punishment; and
Whereas the Joint Statement on
Physical Punishment of Children and Youth recommends delivery of public awareness messages to inform all Canadians that
physical punishment is harmful to children’s development and is ineffective as
discipline; development of universal parenting education; and provision of the
same protection of children from physical assault as is given to Canadian
adults and to children in a growing number of countries; and
Whereas national, provincial/territorial and local levels of government, the
mandates of organizations, and the expertise of professionals who serve
children and youth have the ability to influence the issue; and
Whereas municipalities play a key role through Departments of Health,
Social Services and Police Services in educating citizens; and
Whereas municipal Boards of
Health, at least those in Ontario, are required to have Family Abuse Prevention
plans,
Be it resolved that the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities endorse the Joint Statement on Physical
Punishment of Children and Youth.
CARRIED, with Councillor
Chiarelli dissenting
The committee agreed to forward
the Motion to Council on 26 April.