Communications and inquiry procedures – international mechanisms which can be used to make complaints about human rights violations – are a key avenue through which individuals and groups can enforce their rights. They present an exciting opportunity to advance children’s rights, including their right to protection in law and practice from corporal punishment. Since children are unlikely to be able to access and use these procedures independently, it is important that organisations working for children’s rights take the initiative in using them with children and on their behalf. This guide gives details of the procedures which could be used to challenge corporal punishment of children and suggests starting points for using them.

Procedures covered by this guide:

• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) communications and inquiry procedures
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) communications and inquiry procedures
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) communications and inquiry procedures
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) communications procedure
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) communications and inquiry procedures

If you have questions or comments about this or any of our resources, or to request hard copies, contact us at info@endcorporalpunishment.org.

Guide to international communications and inquiry procedures (EN)
Using international communications and inquiry procedures to challenge corporal punishment of children: A guide for non-governmental organisations and national human rights institutions
Guide to international communications and inquiry procedures (FR)
Le recours aux procédures internationales de communication et d’enquête dans la lutte contre les châtiments corporels des enfants: Guide pour les organisations non gouvernementales et les institutions nationales de défense des droits de l'Homme