Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommends prohibition in new General Comment
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted General Comment No.6 (2018) on “Article 5: Equality and non-discrimination” at its 19th session, held in February – March 2018. Following on from General Comment No.4 (2014) on “Article 24: Right to inclusive education”, in which the Committee made clear that States parties must prohibit all forms of corporal punishment, General Comment No.6 reiterates the obligation on States parties’ to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings (para. 37, emphasis added):
“Children with disabilities, often experience multiple and intersectional discrimination. States parties must prohibit all forms of discrimination on the basis of disability that are specific to children; provide effective and accessible remedies; and raise awareness among the public and professionals to prevent and eliminate discrimination. In many States parties, for instance, children can lawfully be assaulted under the guise of “discipline” or “safety” (e.g. restraint). This physical punishment often disproportionately affects children with disabilities. States parties must prohibit all forms of corporal punishment and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of children, in all settings, and ensure appropriate measures are taken to enforce this ban.”
Read more about the Convention and the Committee’s work in relation to corporal punishment here.
The full General Comment is available here on the Committee’s website.