Grenadian Abigail McIntyre is back home after representing children of the Caribbean at a United Nations session on Protection of Children in schools from violence.

Sixteen -year old Abigail returned to Grenada last Thursday after her trip to New York where she attended the one-day session. Abigail, a first year student at T.A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC), was selected to represent the Caribbean after her participation in a Caribbean consultation that took place in Trinidad in March.

The Caribbean Consultation resulted from an initiative of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to conduct a global study on violence against children. The study was aimed at providing an in-depth picture of the prevalence, nature and causes of violence against children.

Recommendations are to be made for consideration by Member States of the world body, as well as civil society for appropriate action, including effective remedies and preventive and rehabilitative measures at the national and international levels.

Abigail told reporters last Friday at the Grenada National Coalition on the Rights of the Child (GNCRC) office, that positive points were made on children that are abused by teachers, peers and parents. She said that the Coalition has been against Corporal punishment for a number of years.

Abigail noted that several Caribbean countries have abolished corporal punishment but it is still being practised in Grenada. She indicated that it was recommended that corporal punishment be abolished in schools and homes because it is hurting children.

Abigail pointed out that corporal punishment is not the only way to discipline a child. She said she will now act differently towards children because of what she learnt at the UN, and that she will teach other children of the disadvantages of corporal punishment.