End of year message: progress continues despite the huge challenges, but much more is needed

Dear friends and colleagues around the world,

We hope this message finds you well. 2020 has been incredibly challenging for many of us, both personally and professionally.

As you may know, the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment had to close earlier this year. However, we are very grateful that the End Violence Partnership secured funding to take forward the GI’s work, and so we will be able to maintain the website and resources to the previous high standards, and continue advocating for prohibition and elimination of corporal punishment across the world.

Children have faced particular hardship during this time. Child helplines are reporting high levels of calls about violence and domestic abuse, as families endure confinement and stress. The human rights obligation to respect children’s dignity and physical integrity is clear, and the research shows ever more conclusively the many benefits for children and society when countries turn away from corporal punishment. Even though the conditions are difficult, with over one billion children experiencing violence each year, it is essential to step up our work to end violence against children.

One of the big opportunities in the next 12 months will be the Together to #ENDviolence Solutions Summit Series; a global campaign to inspire the end violence community and catalyse the political and financial commitments needed to end violence against children. The Series will include a Policy Push to End Corporal Punishment, and the chance to organise affiliated events. Find out more about the Series here.

Despite the challenges, the momentum to end violent punishment continues to build – in 2020 we celebrated the achievement of prohibition in all settings in Japan and Seychelles, bringing the total states that have enacted this essential protection for children to 60. In the UK, Wales achieved prohibition and the ban in Scotland came into force. Several other countries are currently revising their laws - we hope to bring you more news soon. Watch this space!

In 2020 we also launched a wide range of translated resources, including our Law Reform Guide in Arabic and French, our Frequently Asked Questions booklets in Hausa and Swahili, and additional sub-websites in Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.

As we continue to advocate for an end to corporal punishment we offer our support for your work on this issue, and also ask you to help us stay up-to-date. Please let us know about developments in your area, new resources and progress towards law reform.

Please stay in touch:

We look forward to continuing to work with you.

Bess Herbert, Advocacy Specialist (Corporal Punishment)

Sonia Vohito, Legal Policy Specialist (Corporal Punishment)

bess.herbert@end-violence.org

sonia.vohito@end-violence.org

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