Medical letter writing action: English-speaking Caribbean: corporal punishment

Index Number: AMR 05/001/1993
Date Published: 18 February 1993
Categories: Americas

This paper gives information of the use of corporal punishment in three countries in the English-speaking Caribbean: The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. Punishment may consist of whipping, generally with a rod, or flogging, normally carried out with a "cat-o'-nine-tails". AI regards corporal punishment to constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The organization is also concerned about the possible involvement of medical professionals in the administration of such punishments.