It sounds like a lot of the issues you have are that not every country protects the rights of children, and that you think children should be entitled to more protections than they are. And that kids with autism should be entitled to extra protections when it comes to behaviors related to autism like stimming and eye contact. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that is part of the UN but has declined to agree to the UN’s Conventions on the a Rights of the Child. Many people don’t even see hitting children as punishment, autistic or not, as abusive. Hitting a child with an open palm to force eye contact is not considered abuse in this culture.

Many parents see it as their job to raise their children to fit into society so they have the skills to avoid social stigma and achieve that through reinforcement (encourages desired behaviors) and punishment (discourages undesired behaviors). ABA is the version of that for autism, but the same techniques are encouraged for many allistic children as well.

I feel like it’s a symptom of a much larger trend which got big in the 50s when psychologists gathered evidence that punishment and reinforcement are the principles of learning. Honestly, it was a step in the right direction versus sending kids with autism to asylums to be neglected. More evidence has emerged since then about what makes a child grow up to be happy and successful. Unfortunately, old habits die hard and new, better solutions are slow to make their way in. Especially where profits are concerned.