Grace Ritishma Chand Challenges Constitution’s Wording on Physical Punishment

A student leader has put a pointed question to Fiji’s prime minister and a constitutional committee: why should a document meant to protect children contain words that could be read as allowing physical punishment? Votualevu College head girl Grace Ritishma Chand raised the issue at a public consultation in Nadi, according to the report. Chand urged the Special Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to remove the phrase “lawful and moderate chastisement.” She argued that the wording could leave room for violence against children to be presented as discipline. Her challenge was directed to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and committee members attending the consultation at her school. In making her case, Chand referred to Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Elefina Vuki’s warning that the phrase could be used to justify violence against children. She also cited Women, Children and Social Protection Minister Sashi Kiran’s position that violence against children should never be justified or legislated, as reported in the article. The discussion at Votualevu College was not one-sided. Another student defended stronger disciplinary measures, saying she had seen pupils show disrespect to teachers, including making insulting gestures. She argued that teachers needed authority to maintain order and that students should be held responsible for their behaviour. That student also suggested a range of possible consequences, including warnings, counselling and suspension for more serious cases. Her remarks highlighted the tension at the consultation: how to protect children from violence while ensuring schools can respond when students breach rules. The report does not identify the second student by name.