Committee on the Rights of the Child, session 48 (2008)
Recommendations/observations on corporal punishment in the Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations to states examined in the 48th session
Bulgaria
(23 June 2008, CRC/C/BGR/CO/2, Concluding observations on second report, paras. 31 and 32)
"While noting that corporal punishment is unlawful in the home, schools, the penal system, alternative care settings, and in situations of employment, the Committee is concerned that children are still victims of corporal punishment in all the above-mentioned settings.
"The Committee urges the State party, to take into account its general comment No. 8 on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment (CRC/GC/2006/8), to enforce the ban of corporal punishment by:
a) undertaking public and professional awareness-raising;
b) promoting non-violent, positive, participatory methods of childrearing and education and reinforcing knowledge among children of their right to protection from all forms of corporal punishment; and
c) bringing offenders before the competent administrative and judicial authorities."
Eritrea
(23 June 2008, CRC/C/ERI/CO/3, Concluding observations on second/third report, paras. 38 and 39)
"The Committee notes that the provision on corporal punishment in the Transitional Penal Code only applies to children under 15 when endangering gravely their physical and mental health and that ‘reasonable chastisement’ remains permitted. The Committee is concerned that corporal punishment is still widely practised in the home, the schools and other settings.
"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 alternative childcare. It also recommends that the State party conduct awareness-raising campaigns 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 the 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 also recommends the State party to seek technical assistance from UNICEF in order to implement relevant programmes in the school environment."
Georgia
(23 June 2008, CRC/C/GEO/CO/3, Concluding observations on third report, paras. 31 and 32)
"While noting the legal prohibition of corporal punishment in school as stipulated in Article 19 of the Law on General Education, the Committee notes with concern that corporal punishment in the home remains lawful. Furthermore the Committee concerned that corporal punishment continues to occur in the home as well as schools and institutions.
"The Committee recommends that the State party adopt legislation explicitly prohibiting all forms of corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home. The State party should also conduct awareness raising and public education campaigns against corporal punishment and promote positive, non-violent forms of discipline as an alternative to corporal punishment, while taking due account of the General Comment no. 8 of the Committee on the Right of the Child to Protection from Corporal Punishment and Other Cruel or Degrading Forms of Punishment (2006)."
Serbia
(20 June 2008, CRC/C/SRB/CO/1, Concluding observations on initial report, paras. 46 and 47)
"The Committee is particularly concerned that corporal punishment in the family remains lawful and continues to be a widely used disciplinary method.
"The Committee urges the State party to expressly prohibit and enforce by law all corporal punishment in the family. The State party is further encouraged to undertake awareness-raising campaigns and education programmes on non-violent forms of discipline, to conduct research into the prevalence of corporal punishment of children in the family and other settings, and to enforce the law."
Sierra Leone
(20 June 2008, CRC/C/SLE/CO/2, Concluding observations on second report, paras. 35 and 36)
"The Committee notes with appreciation that the Child Rights Act repeals the Corporal Punishment Act, under which boys under age 17 could receive up to 12 lashes as punishment, and that corporal punishment had not been judicially applied for several years. However, the Committee is concerned that corporal punishment is not prohibited and, in fact, is widely practiced in homes, schools or alternative care contexts and detention centres.
"The Committee recommends that the State party ensure the full implementation of the Child Rights Act and that it explicitly prohibit by law all forms of violence against children, including corporal punishment, in all settings, including in the family, schools, alternative childcare and places of detention for juveniles, and implement those laws effectively. The Committee also recommends that the State party intensify its awarenessraising 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."