Rod takes kids down path of crime

Andres Einmann
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Illustration: graafika: Silver Alt

Kids punished physically are more likely to commit crimes, consume alcohol and be bullied at school, claims a fresh University of Tartu study. Justice minister Andres Anvelt says this points to family violence spreading outside homes, the problem demanding forceful intervention.

The study said minors punished physically are twice as apt to transgress the law. Children beaten by parents are also twice as prone to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Also, kids physically punished are twice as likely to be bullied at school – as compared to those never experiencing physical force applied by parents. 

The study said 15 percent of school children have been physically punished by parents; with Russian and Estonian kids the percentage was 21 and 14, respectively.

Mr Anvelt says this is a serious issue. «Family violence is a great challenge in the Estonian society today, and here the state can do al lot. Firstly, family violence must be clearly defined in legal space. At the moment, we are having the review of penal Code, and I do hope by Midsummer Day the Riigikogu will ratify a renewed Penal Code. Therein, family violence will have been clearly introduced as a type of crime. Up to now, all the law had was mistreatment – makes no difference whether a person is beaten at a pub or at home. Now, family violence has been introduced. At court, an aggravating circumstance will be violence seen by a child,» said Mr Anvelt.

According to the minister, not only is the kid physically punished a victim; also, other kids seeing it happen are to be treated as victims. «We have adopted a plan to join the Istanbul Convention Against Domestic Violence by end of the year. Estonia is among the few not joined yet. The state will assume responsibility to enhance social and legal aid to victims,» he said.

Mr Anvelt understands activities against family violence require lots of convincing and change of attitudes in society. «The Estonian society is relatively conservative and people are not willing to interfere in neighbours’ business even while screaming is heard and the neighbour is going about with a beaten-blue eye. Now, this is done more often. As revealed by the fresh study by Tartu University, violence is spreading from homes to streets and to schools; thus, violence at the neighbours’ is not just their own business,» said the minister.

The justice minister says he is happy about the rapid rise of statistical cases of violence, these past years. «Sounds strange, but it’s a positive sign for me. Serving to show that more and more people are calling the police for help. This does not mean violence is increasing; this means people are daring to turn to the police,» said Mr Anvelt.

Mr Anvelt added that while robberies and the like has gone down over these past years, more and more of family violence is being reported.

«With family violence, it is important to change people’s attitudes; here, media also plays a large role. Family violence is like a cancerous growth in society, impossible to cure without local radiation therapy,» underlined Mr Anvelt.

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