"Giving Spicy Food to Kindergarteners Is Violent Behavior" Petition
Human Rights Commission: "Does Not Constitute Human Rights Violation"
The civic group 'Jeongchi-haneun Eommadeul' filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Ministry of Education regarding the spicy meals served at elementary school attached kindergartens. Photo by Jeongchi-haneun Eommadeul
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that providing spicy meals to kindergarten children does not constitute a violation of children's human rights, in response to a complaint filed by the civic group 'Moms Making Politics'.
According to the Human Rights Commission on the 13th, the civic group Moms Making Politics submitted a complaint to the commission last November, claiming that providing spicy meals to kindergarten children also constitutes a violation of children's human rights, targeting the Ministry of Education and elementary schools. In the case of kindergartens attached to elementary schools, children eat the same meals as elementary students, and when spicy meals are served, children who cannot eat spicy food often either refuse the meal or suffer from stomachaches.
The group stated in their complaint, "If young children consume excessively spicy food, it can burden their digestive system and irritate the intestinal mucosa, causing abdominal pain or diarrhea. Especially, young children have more sensitive taste buds than adults, so the same level of spiciness can be perceived as intense pain," and argued that "forcing spicy meals is a clear human rights violation."
They added, "Since the degree to which spiciness is felt and tolerated varies greatly among individuals, forcing young children to endure spiciness (pain) is a violent act," and "Providing food that some children cannot eat (spicy food), causing hunger and neglect, is also a clear act of discrimination and human rights violation."
However, the Human Rights Commission dismissed the complaint, stating, "It is impossible to establish a standard for the level of spiciness that children can endure." They explained, "Spiciness is a subjective sensation," and "there are limitations in establishing an objective standard for 'spiciness' during the cooking process."
The commission also noted, "The Ministry of Education distributes the 'Kindergarten Meal Operation and Nutrition Management Guide' to education offices and kindergartens to ensure children have balanced meals," and "Considering that schools at all levels are making efforts to provide less spicy meals by using soy sauce and other methods, this case does not constitute a human rights violation."
Following the dismissal of the complaint by the Human Rights Commission, Moms Making Politics expressed regret and announced they would proceed with an appeal.
Moms Making Politics emphasized, "Forcing children to endure spiciness without providing alternative meals is violence," and "Spiciness is not a taste but a pain sensation. Instead of forcing children to endure spicy food, their right to choose should be guaranteed."
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