07Jan, 2016

South African Human Rights Commission rules against Church promotion of corporal punishment and calls for prohibition in the home

The South African Human Rights Commission has issued its ruling on a complaint brought against the Joshua Generation Church concerning the Church’s promotion of corporal punishment as a means of parental “discipline” of children. The Commission ruled against the Church and, in doing so, called on the Government to meet its human rights obligations by […]

06Jan, 2016

Global report 2015 is now available

The year 2015 has witnessed a milestone in progress towards universal prohibition of corporal punishment of children: now, more than half of UN member states have achieved prohibition in all settings, including the home, or are committed to doing so. In total, 48 states have now prohibited all corporal punishment and Governments in another 52 […]

06Nov, 2015

Ireland bans all corporal punishment of children

Ireland has joined the list of countries outlawing all corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home. On 11 November 2015, the Irish Parliament adopted legislation explicitly repealing the common law defence of “reasonable chastisement” of children, making Ireland the 20th European Union state to achieve prohibition of corporal punishment, the 29th Council of Europe […]

16Oct, 2015

Global Initiative e-newsletter issue 32 (October 2015)

The global newsletter provides a round-up of news and developments on corporal punishment from around the world. In this edition, the Global Initiative reports on five new states that have committed to prohibiting all corporal punishment of children, positive steps towards prohibition in Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and Seychelles, and worrying backward steps in the […]

12Oct, 2015

New handbook for working with religious communities launched at the Parliament of the World’s Religions

The world’s oldest, largest and most inclusive interfaith event, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, takes place this week from 15-19 October in Salt Lake, Utah, bringing together thousands of global and religious leaders, grassroots activists and practitioners, working for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. The Global Initiative and Save the Children Sweden are […]

10Oct, 2015

Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends prohibition in all settings and full implementation and enforcement of the law

The Committee on the Rights of the Child has published its concluding observations on states examined at its 70th session in September/October 2015. To Bangladesh, the Committee noted the High Court directive to the Government in 2011 to ban all corporal punishment of children and recommended that this be accompanied by the promotion of positive, non-violent, participatory […]

09Oct, 2015

Progress and delay in Africa – updated briefing from the Global Initiative

Seven African states have achieved prohibition of corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home, and recommendations to prohibit all corporal punishment of children have been accepted by 17 African states. On the other hand, 25% of Africa’s children live in states where corporal punishment is not fully prohibited in any setting. These facts […]