YEMENYEMENA UNICEF report published in 2010 states that 95% of children aged 2-14 experienced violent discipline (physical punishment and/or psychological aggression) in 2005-2006. Eight-six per cent experienced physical punishment, while a smaller percentage (44%) of mothers and caregivers thought that physical punishment was necessary in childrearing, and non-violent discipline was also widely used: experienced by 94% of children. More than four children in ten experienced severe physical punishment (being hit or slapped on the face, head or ears or being hit over and over with an implement) and 93% experienced psychological aggression (being shouted at, yelled at, screamed at or insulted). Children aged 5-9 were more likely to experience violent discipline than those of other ages: 97% of children aged 5-9 compared to 92% of children aged 2-4 and 95% of children aged 10-14. No significant differences in children’s experience of violent discipline were found according to sex, level of education of adults in the household or engagement in child labour.
(UNICEF, 2010, Child Disciplinary Practices at Home: Evidence from a Range of Low- and Middle-Income Countries, NY: UNICEF)
A 2004 study involving over 600 children aged 6-15 and over 400 parents from several urban and rural areas of Yemen used questionnaires and focus groups to investigate the prevalence of violence against children, including corporal punishment. The study found that 88.2% of children were punished by their parents when they did something wrong, compared to only 10.6% who had their mistake explained to them. The majority of the punishments experienced by children were physical, with 53.1% of children saying that the most common method of punishment used was violence, in the form of being hit or beaten (38.6%), being hit with a stick (12.5%) or having their faces slapped (2%). Other punishments included depriving children of meals and imprisoning them. More girls than boys, and more rural children than urban children reported experiencing beating, while boys were more likely to be hit with a stick than girls. Children were most often punished for disobeying their parents, not doing schoolwork and returning home late. 58.7% of children reported feeling angry when punished at home, while 40.4% felt depressed. When parents were asked how they dealt with their children’s faults at home, 60.5% said that they punished children, while 35.3% said that they explained children’s mistakes. 43.8% of parents thought that boys are punished more than girls, while 8.6% thought that girls are punished more than boys. 40.1% thought that there was no difference in how often girls and boys are punished. When asked about children's reactions to punishment, most fathers and mothers (68.8%) said that children stop or change their misbehaviour. 15.6% said that punishment has no effect on children, while 11.6% said that children become more obstinate and repeat their faults. 82.1% believe that it is right for parents to punish children, while 15.1% believe that punishment is wrong. 33.1% of parents said that using kindness, encouragement and consideration is the best way to bring up children. In schools, physical punishment was common, with 65% of children saying that being hit with a stick is the most common method of punishment used. 18.3% of children said they felt depressed when physically punished at school, 6.8% felt sad, 5.6% felt annoyed and 5.3% felt like taking revenge. The study involved a small number of children (33) who lived in institutions (“Social Guidance Houses”) due to the death of their parents, poverty or having been convicted of a crime. Of these children, 75.7% said that in the institutions, punishment was the most common way of dealing with faults. 68% of children said that the most common means of punishment was being beaten with a stick. 32% of children reported feeling degraded during punishment, 16% felt depressed and 12% felt insulted.
(Al-thabhani, N., 2004, A Report on Violence Against Children in Selected Areas of Yemen, Presidency of Council of Ministers and Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Republic of Yemen)
A synthesis in 2005 of research on physical and humiliating punishment of children in Yemen found that almost 90% of children reported that physical and humiliating punishment is the main method of disciplining them in the family. The most common form of punishment in the home was beating, especially for girls in rural areas. Severe physical punishment, including hitting with a stick, was more commonly used against boys in urban areas. Punishments were usually inflicted by mothers and fathers, but also by elder brothers. Corporal punishment in schools was found to be even more common and more severe, with over 90% of children reporting that it is the most commonly used form of punishment. A third of children in social care institutions reported experiencing severe treatment and a further third reported moderate treatment, including being beaten with a stick. Parents report that punishment usually begins to be inflicted on children between the ages of 5 and 7 years, though children as young as 1 are punished, and ceases at the age of 15 years.
(Habasch, R., 2005, Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children in Yemen, Save the Children Sweden)
Further details on Children and research section
A sample of 1,325 city schoolchildren and 274 rural schoolchildren in Yemen, together with their parents and teachers, participated in questionnaire based research into the prevalence of corporal punishment, reported in 2004. It was found that 80% of mothers in the rural area and 59% of mothers in the city use corporal punishment to discipline their children. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to be spanked, and the lower the level of the mothers' education, the more likely they were to use corporal punishment. Experience of severe corporal punishment was linked with poor educational achievement for the child, and corporal punishment was found to contribute to a child's mental health difficulties. The most common forms of punishment were hitting with the hand, a belt, stick or other implement. Other measures included locking, tying, biting and pinching.
(Alyahri, A., 2004, "Mental health, education and corporal punishment in Yemeni school-aged children", Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London)