Zimbabwe High Court declares corporal punishment unconstitutional

On 28 February 2017, the High Court of Zimbabwe ruled that parents and teachers who inflicted corporal punishment on children were in breach of the 2013 Constitution. Indeed, the new Constitution guarantees people’s right to protection from “physical or psychological torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (section 53) and from “all […]

Global newsletter issue 36 (February 2017) is out now!

The Global Initiative’s quarterly global newsletter provides a round-up of news and developments on corporal punishment from around the world. In this latest edition, we report on recent law reform to prohibit all corporal punishment in Slovenia and Lithuania, moves towards prohibition in Ecuador, Malaysia, Pakistan and USA, and other positive developments in Kazakhstan and […]

Lithuania prohibits all corporal punishment of children

During an extraordinary session on 14 February 2017, the Lithuanian Parliament – the Seimas – passed amendments to the Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child 1996, prohibiting all corporal punishment of children. The new law defines corporal punishment as “any punishment in which physical force is used to cause […]

African e-newsletter issue 24 is out now!

This latest edition of the African newsletter documents recent developments, campaigns and positive moves towards ending corporal punishment from across the region – including an advocacy intervention in Togo to move from prohibition to elimination of all corporal punishment. It presents the new annual global report from the Global Intiative, as well as information from […]

French Constitutional Council annuls article prohibiting the use of “corporal violence” against children

Several provisions of the Equality and Citizenship Law voted in December last year were annulled yesterday (26 January 2017) by the French Constitutional Council, including article 222 prohibiting the use of “corporal violence” against children. Soon after the law was voted, opposition MPs referred it to the Constitutional Council and challenged the constitutionality of several […]

Global report 2016 is out now

The year 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of the presentation of the World Report on Violence against Children to the UN General Assembly. The Global Initiative and Save the Children Sweden are delighted to present this year’s edition of our annual global report, marking this 10th anniversary and celebrating the significant progress made towards universal prohibition of […]

New handbook for multi-religious gatherings marks 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Declaration

Ahead of Universal Children’s Day (20 November), the Global Initiative, Save the Children and the Churches’ Network for Non-violence are delighted to launch Ending corporal punishment of children – a handbook for multi-religious gatherings, marking the 10th anniversaries of the UN Study on Violence against Children and A Multi-religious Commitment to End Violence against Children – Kyoto Declaration. This substantial resource […]

Slovenia prohibits all corporal punishment of children

Originally posted 7 November 2016. Updated 10 November 2016 to reflect Government confirmation that prohibition applies in all settings, including all alternative care and day care settings. On 25 October 2016, the Slovenian National Assembly passed Law No. 542-08/16-9/2.6 Amending and Supplementing the Law on Prevention of Family Violence (ZPND-A). The new law prohibits violence […]

Global newsletter issue 35 (October 2016) is out now!

The global newsletter provides a round-up of news and developments on corporal punishment from around the world. In this edition, we report on Paraguay’s recent prohibition of all corporal punishment, new commitments to law reform made by Namibia, Seychelles and Sierra Leone, and other positive developments in El Salvador, Finland, The Gambia, Peru and Philippines. […]