Mr. N.H.H (born in 1987), residing in Hung Phuc ward, Vinh city, used a broom with a stainless steel roll to beat N.D.L (born in 2016), his biological son, causing injuries.
This behavior violates the provisions of Point a, Clause 2, Article 52 of Decree No. 144/2021/ND-CP of the Government on administrative sanctions for violations in the fields of security, order, social safety; prevention and control of social evils; fire prevention, fighting, rescue; prevention and control of domestic violence.
The local authorities have prepared a case file and requested competent authorities to handle it according to the provisions of law. Based on the level of violation, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued a decision to fine Mr. N.H.H VND 10 million.
This is not the first case related to domestic violence to be handled by the authorities, but the decision to fine the People's Committee of Nghe An province 10 million VND emphasizes a clear message: violence against children, even if parents "lure" their children, is still an unpopular act.
In reality, in Vietnam, the saying "throw a whip and give a spike" is still considered by many parents as the top motto in raising children.
However, the current era is different, the awareness of children's rights is different from before. Moreover, the line between "lure" and violence is sometimes very fragile.
It is undeniable that the "roiements" of fathers and mothers towards their children, in some cases, are necessary.
But if there is a lack of control, it will become violence, domestic violence, and can leave a lifelong mental wound on a child, causing him to grow up feeling insecure, self-conscious, and even lose faith in his most beloved person.
The father's actions in the incident in Nghe An not only caused physical damage but also represented the typical manifestation of the mindset of parents having every right over their children, including using violence - a mindset that is no longer suitable in modern families.
This administrative fine of 10 million VND in Nghe An has warning value and guides public opinion. It shows that local authorities no longer take domestic violence lightly, do not accept the "internal resolution" or "close doors to each other" approach that has caused many cases of violence to be ignored or silenced.
Each decisive and clear handling action is a step forward in protecting children's rights right from the first home, their family.
However, it is unreasonable for the local government to decide to punish a father for beating his child like in Nghe An.
And to no longer have to make decisions to punish like this, it is necessary to have more long-term, widespread communication campaigns to change social awareness, especially for parents and adults in the family about the role of non-violent education.
Raising children should be based on respect, proper love, combining active discipline and psychological understanding, instead of using fear to create Obedience.
Children can make mistakes and need to be guided and adjusted. But no mistake by a child deserves to be punished with violence. There is no reason for adults to defame their love by causing both physical and mental damage to their children.
Society is changing, every family must change, starting with the awareness that educating children through violence is a violation of the law, which can be handled and publicly condemned.
