In many parts of the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, caning was a common punishment, as well as for several European colonies in the 19th century and early 20th century. Lucky for us caning has now been banned in most countries. I do not understand how some can still consider this legal or in any way humane.
Caning is a punishment with a cane (usually wooden) applied to areas of the body consistent with the bottom, hands, feet, shoulders or even back. The size of the cane varies.
Caning was used when educationalists were looking for a way to replace birching, a similar form but used to administer a whipping, with a more suitable contemporary punishment. The cane gives a lot of pain when used properly, even through many layers of clothing.
Caning was considered a judicial punishment for juveniles and sometimes adults. It is best known in schools and homes as educational discipline. I find this outrageous in the fact that you could easily get the same effect with a different method of discipline.
Judicial caning means using a long and heavy rattan. It was a feature some British colonial judicial systems used. It is still used in the post independence era, such as Southeast Asia and some African countries as well. It maintained in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
Caning was introduced in Indonesia recently which since it’s 2005 liberty has introduced a form of ‘shariah,’ which is when you apply the cane directly to a clothed upper back with Muslim modesty. Some African countries that still use judicial caning are Botswana and Nigeria to name a couple. Kenya and South Africa used caning until the late 20th century.
In Singapore, males under fifty can be sentenced to twenty-four strokes of the cane on their bare bottom. This punishment is mandatory for over thirty offenses, most of which are sexual or violent crimes. Some are immigration violations, drug violations, or acts of vandalism. This is also applied to foreigners despite the controversy in the West.
In some schools the corporal punishment was carried out by the teacher only, but in many English and Commonwealth private schools authority to punish the students was also granted to particular senior students, also called prefects. In the late nineteenth or twentieth century a typical punishment was one or two strokes on the hand. (Palm)
Extra information: Michael P. Fay received caning in Singapore in 1994 for vandalizing several vehicles. In UAE, Sarah Balabagan received a caning in 1996, convicted of homicide.
The cane never caught on in North America (Thank goodness!) but rather a flat wooden paddle, which many Americans use, in our homes and in our schools. I find this to be just as effective and would highly recommend this any day over caning!
