At its 78th session in October- November 2023, the Committee Against Torture issued recommendations and observations on the prohibition and elimination of corporal punishment of children to Burundi. 

The Committee recommended (unofficial translation):

“The State party should  

… Amend its Penal Code and its Personal and Family Code to explicitly prohibit the use of corporal punishment in all settings, including at home and in daycare centers and institutions where adults exercise parental authority over children, and raise public awareness of positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline…” 

Find out more about the recommendations in our individual country report for Burundi. 

Find out more about progress towards prohibition of corporal punishment in Africa.

The full unofficial translation of the recommendation is below, and you can find the full recommendations for Burundi here.

(21 November 2023, CAT/C/BDI/CO/3 Advance Unedited Version, Concluding observations on third report, paras. 43 and 44, in French only) 

While noting with appreciation the adoption of the National Child Protection Policy (2020-2024), the Committee notes with concern that the law does not expressly prohibit corporal punishment at home and in daycares and institutions where adults exercise parental authority over children… 

“The State party should amend its Penal Code and its Personal and Family Code to explicitly prohibit the use of corporal punishment in all settings, including at home and in daycare centers and institutions where adults exercise parental authority over children, and raise public awareness of positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline…”