The MP opposed the project that envisages fining parents and teachers who commit physical violence against a child for educational purposes up to 200 manats, contained in the proposed new Article 525-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
Modern.az reports that MP Nigar Arpadari stated this at today's plenary session of the Milli Majlis.
She noted that the discussed amendment is dangerous for the country:
“A strong family forms the basis of our national identity. The issue is that this article practically opens Pandora's box and could become the beginning of the weakening of family integrity and relations between parents and children. We already have problems in this area, and they need to be solved, not further deepened. Yes, you might say that these laws have been adopted in Europe and several Western countries since the 1980s, and many countries have joined them. However, if you look at the list of those countries, you will see that the demographic situation in most of them is severe. Such laws play a significant role in the emergence of negative phenomena in the families of those countries. This process began with laws that allow neighbors, teachers, distant relatives to report to the police and social services about parents exerting physical or psychological pressure on children”.
No one can prove to me that these bring real benefits:
“For example, today in California, antidepressants can be prescribed to a child without the parent's knowledge, and even a gender reassignment procedure can be initiated after diagnosing them with gender dysphoria, and if you, as a parent, object to this, you may even face the risk of arrest. In some European countries, if social services consider that you are raising your child with values that do not conform to certain standards – for example, if the upbringing you provide does not align with their very popular principles of tolerance towards sexual minorities – then in this case, you may lose your parental rights”.
The MP noted that she is not saying these words to scare, these are facts reflecting reality:
“Processes in the examples I mentioned were once paved by such laws. A great ideological struggle is underway in the world, and the traditional family institution is one of the targets of this struggle. Such a law, however, acts as a deceptive mechanism. It is presented as such to create the illusion of protecting children's rights. But in reality, it leads to weakening and destroying the protection that healthy families provide to children. Naturally, I am absolutely against physical punishment of children. We must fight against physical punishments for educational purposes. But we should do this not by adopting such a problematic law, but by educating people”.
Nigar Arpadari noted that the project also includes the concept of psychological punishment, but it is questionable who will determine this:
“Who will determine this? Should the state hire thousands of psychologists to check whether parents are exerting psychological pressure on children? How can one determine where upbringing ends and psychological pressure begins? This provision is an approach that is very difficult to implement in practice and can lead to various abuses. On the other hand, criminal liability for physical violence already exists, and no one exempts parents from this responsibility. Children should not be beaten; this is clear. However, other ways must be sought for this, and it is not right to thoughtlessly join mechanisms promoted by international lobby groups. The results are evident in countries where such an approach has been implemented. In Western countries, the situation in the field of family and child policy is not improving; on the contrary, it is becoming more complicated. If this is the case, why should we follow their path? I say this both as an MP and as a mother” – she concluded.
