Committee Against Torture, session 42 (2009)

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS ON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE'S CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS TO STATES EXAMINED IN SESSION 42 (27 APRIL - 15 MAY 2009)

Chad

(4 June 2009, CAT/C/TCD/CO/1, Concluding observations on initial report, para. 32)

"While noting that corporal punishment in schools is prohibited in the State party’s legislation, the Committee remains concerned at the absence of legislation prohibiting it within the family, in alternative care institutions and as a disciplinary measure in penal institutions. The Committee is also concerned at the frequent resort to this practice in education, in particular in Koranic schools (art. 16).

The State party should extend legislation prohibiting corporal punishment to apply also to families, educational and religious establishments, alternative care institutions and places of juvenile detention. The State party should ensure that the legislation prohibiting corporal punishment is strictly enforced, and should conduct awareness- raising and educational campaigns to that end."

New Zealand

(4 June 2009, CAT/C/NZL/CO/5, Concluding observations on fifth report, para. 3)

"The Committee notes with appreciation: …

e)    the enactment of the Crimes Amendment Act 2007 which repeals the legal defence for the use of reasonable force ‘by way of correction’ in section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 and prohibits corporal punishment…."