Samoa judge says smacking children encourages more violence

Samoa Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, has called for an end to smacking of children to break the cycle of violence in society.

Presenting a paper at the Youth and Family Violence Forum in Apia this week Justice Vui said the child learned from its parents.

He said parents who smack their children teach them that assault was an acceptable way to teach behaviour and means children learn about violence from a very young age.

Justice Vui, who is a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of a Child, said violence was becoming an accepted norm in Samoa.

Last week Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said his government was planning to reintroduce corporal punishment to curb student violence.