Chastisement in marriage
From 1794 to 1812 the Prussian Land Law allowed the husband the right to chastise his wife. In Bavaria there was also a codex from 1758 which granted the husband the right to chastise his wife. It was not officially repealed until 1928.
Today, corporal punishment is forbidden in marriage. Violence between spouses is illegal and punishable. Nevertheless, corporal punishment is still practiced in some cultures. In some countries and religions it is even allowed or even recommended.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
There are numerous dropouts from Jehovah’s Witnesses who report physical punishment in the sect. In 1966, the Jehovah’s Watchtower magazine stated that corporal punishment was used for educational purposes. Punishment in the form of slaps on the buttocks or confinement in a dark room are still used as educational methods by Jehovah’s Witnesses today.
Is there a chastisement right of the parents?
The parents’ right of chastisement is the right of chastisement, which was last abolished in Germany. Until 1980, parents had the right to chastise their children. In the meantime, there is the law on the outlawing of violence in education, which includes: “Children have a right to an upbringing free of violence.
Physical punishment, mental injuries and other degrading measures are not allowed”. This §1631 Abs. 2 BGB forbids parents any form of corporal punishment of their own children and protects the children legally from violent punishment. This topic might also be of interest to you: Educational mandate – What is it? and educational assistance
