DPR Korea

(27 March 2009, CRC/C/PRK/CO/4, Concluding observations on third/fourth report, paras. 36, 37, 70, 72 and 73)

"While noting the information in the State party's report that the ‘living conditions at orphans’ nurseries, kindergartens and schools remarkably improved during the period under review’ (para. 69), the Committee expresses its concern at the significant number of children who are placed in institutions and that the living conditions in many of these institutions continue to be below internationally acceptable standards. The Committee is concerned that adequate and effective monitoring of the quality of these facilities is lacking, and that the placement of children in alternative care is frequently not decided with respect to the best interest of the child. The Committee is also concerned about the reported use of corporal punishment in alternative care institutions.

"The Committee recommends that the State party: …

d) take strengthened measures to sensitize professionals working with children to the harm caused by corporal punishment and promote an alternative, non-violent forms of discipline, as foreseen in article 28, paragraph 2, of the Convention….

"The Committee notes that in cases of crimes committed by children between the age of 14 and 17, the child is subject to ‘public education measures’. In this regard, the Committee regrets the lack of information provided by the State party on these measures, specifically, how and by whom the decision is made to commit a child to these measures; what procedural guarantees exist; what types of sanctions are imposed as ‘public education measure’; their duration; and whether they fully respect the rights of the child as provided by the Convention.

"The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.239, paragraph 65 (d)) to the State party to provide in its next periodic report detailed information on how the non-judicial approach of the State party conforms to the human rights safeguards enshrined in articles 37, 39 and 40 of the Convention and the nature and application of ‘public education measures’.

"The Committee also urges the State party to bring the system of juvenile justice, applicable to children aged between 14 and 18, fully in line with the Convention, in particular articles 37, 40 and 39, and with other United Nations standards in the field of juvenile justice, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines), the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Their Liberty (the Havana Rules) and the Vienna Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System; and the Committee’s general comment No. 10 (2007) on children's rights in juvenile justice. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the State party in particular: …

f) ensure that punishment imposed, including ‘public education measures’, do not involve any form of corporal punishment…."

DR Congo

(10 February 2009, CRC/C/COD/CO/2, Concluding observations on second report, paras. 39 and 40)

"While the Committee welcomes the prohibition of corporal punishment in schools, it remains concerned that it continues to be lawful, and is practiced, in the home as well as in institutions.

"The Committee recommends that the State party explicitly prohibit by law corporal punishment in all settings, including in the family, schools, alternative childcare and places of work and places of detention, and implement those laws effectively. It also recommends that the State party intensify its awareness-raising campaigns in order to promote the use of alternative forms of discipline in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in accordance with the Convention, especially article 28, paragraph 2, taking into account the Committee’s general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment."

Malawi

(27 March 2009, CRC/C/MWI/CO/2, Concluding observations on second report, paras. 38 and 39)

"The Committee welcomes the information that the Penal Code Amendment Bill as well as the Child (Care, Protection and Justice) Bill will explicitly abolish corporal punishment. While the Committee notes that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has attempted to enforce its ban on corporal punishment by authorizing District Education Managers in all districts to monitor corporal punishment in schools, enforcement still proves difficult.

"The Committee urges the State party to expedite the adoption of the Penal Code amendment and the Child (Care, Protection and Justice) Bill and explicitly prohibit by law corporal punishment in all settings, including in the family, schools, institutional settings, and implement those laws effectively. It also recommends that the State party intensify its awareness-raising campaigns in order to promote the use of alternative forms of discipline in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in accordance with the Convention, especially article 28, paragraph 2, taking into account the Committee’s general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment."

Netherlands

(27 March 2009, CRC/C/NLD/CO/3, Concluding observations on the third report, paras. 36 and 37)

"The Committee is concerned that corporal punishment in the home is not prohibited in Aruba, and that it is still being used at schools, day-care centres and in the home in the Netherlands Antilles.

"The Committee recommends that the State party prohibit corporal punishment by law and enforce the prohibition in all settings, including in the family, the schools and out of home placements. It also recommends that the State party conduct awareness-raising campaigns and parenting education programmes to ensure that alternative forms of discipline are used, in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in conformity with the Convention, especially article 28, paragraph 2, while taking due account of general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment."

Republic of Moldova

(20 February 2009, CRC/C/MDA/CO/3, Concluding observations on second/third report, paras. 37 and 38)

"The Committee is concerned at reports that corporal punishment is a common phenomenon at home and is frequently used to discipline children at school. The Committee also regrets the absence of official statistics on corporal punishment of children by parents.

"In light of the Committee’s general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment, the Committee recommends that the State party enforce the legislative prohibition of corporal punishment in all settings, including through awareness-raising campaigns aimed at families, the school system and other educational settings."