Committee on the Rights of the Child, session 15 (1997)
Recommendations/observations on corporal punishment in the Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations to states examined in the 15th session
Algeria
(18 June 1997, CRC/C/15/Add.76, Concluding observations on initial report, paras. 21 and 35)
"The Committee is concerned at the lack of appropriate measures to combat and prevent ill-treatment and abuse within the family, and at the lack of information on this matter. The Committee is further concerned that disciplinary measures in schools often involve corporal punishment, although it is prohibited by law.
"The Committee recommends that special attention be given to the problems of ill-treatment and abuse, including sexual abuse, of children within the family and corporal punishment in schools, and stresses the need for information and education campaigns to prevent and combat the use of any form of physical or mental violence on children, in accordance with article 19 of the Convention. The Committee also suggests that comprehensive studies on these problems be initiated in order to understand them better and to facilitate the elaboration of policies and programmes, including rehabilitation programmes, to combat them effectively."
Bangladesh
(18 June 1997, CRC/C/15/Add.74, Concluding observations on initial report, paras. 18 and 38)
"The Committee is concerned at the lack of appropriate measures to combat and prevent ill-treatment and abuse, including sexual abuse, both within and outside the family, and at the lack of awareness and information on this matter. The persistence of corporal punishment and its acceptance by the society and instances of violence committed by law enforcement officials against abandoned or ‘vagrant’ children are matters of serious concern.
"The Committee recommends that the State party develop public awareness campaigns and measures to provide appropriate assistance to families in carrying out their childrearing responsibilities with a view, inter alia, to preventing domestic violence, prohibiting corporal punishment, and preventing early marriages and other harmful traditional practices."
Cuba
(18 June 1997, CRC/C/15/Add.72, Concluding observations on initial report, paras. 19 and 35)
"While the Committee takes note of the State party’s efforts to deal with the issue of child abuse, including through the establishment of an early warning system for violence against children, it is of the view that these measures are insufficient to fully protect children from such violations. Furthermore, serious concern remains in relation to a child’s opportunity to report abuse and other violations of his/her rights in the family, schools or other institutions and to have a complaint taken seriously and responded to effectively.
"The Committee recommends that further measures to protect children from abuse and maltreatment be undertaken, in particular through the development of a widespread public information campaign for the prevention of corporal punishment and bullying of children, whether by adults or by other children."
Ghana
(18 June 1997, CRC/C/15/Add.73, Concluding observations on initial report, paras. 16 and 36)
"The Committee is deeply concerned by the institutionalized use of corporal punishment as a means of discipline, particularly in schools, as well as at the absence of a comprehensive law that clearly prohibits the use of both mental and physical torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against children.
"In light of articles 3, 19 and 28.2, the Committee strongly recommends that corporal punishment be prohibited by law and that references to disciplinary measures using physical force, such as caning, be withdrawn from the Teachers Handbook. It further recommends that authorities develop and implement appropriate creative and socio-educational measures of discipline which respect all the rights of the child."