Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, session 68 (2017)
RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS ON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN'S CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS TO STATES EXAMINED IN SESSION 68 (23 OCTOBER - 17 NOVEMBER 2017)
Kuwait
(17 November 2017, CEDAW/C/KWT/CO/5 Advance unedited version, Concluding observations on fifth report, paras. 14 and 15)
“… The Committee regrets the persistence of discriminatory provisions in the State party’s legislation, and is further concerned by the explanation provided by the State party that any revision of discriminatory provisions related to polygamy, divorce, child custody, inheritance, guardianship of men over women and child marriage would contravene Sharia law, the national Constitution and other relevant legislation. The Committee is particularly concerned about the following provisions: …
b. Provisions in the Penal Code, including the reduction of sentences for men who kill a woman in the name of so-called honour (article 153), permission to physically discipline a person (article 29) and non-imposition of criminal charges against a kidnapper and rapist who marries his victim with the consent of her guardian (article 182)
“In accordance with its General Recommendations No. 28 (2010) on the core obligations of States parties under article 2 of the Convention, the Committee urges the State party to: …
c. Abolish articles 29, 153, and 182 of the Penal Code…”
Singapore
(17 November 2017, CEDAW/C/SGP/CO/5 Advance unedited version, Concluding observations on fifth report, paras. 20 and 21)
“The Committee welcomes the measures taken by the State party to enhance legal protection of women from gender-based violence, including by amending the Women’s Charter in 2016. Nevertheless, the Committee remains concerned about: …
(e) Corporal punishment continues to be legal under article 89 of the Penal Code, article 64 the Women’s Charter, Section 27 of the Children and Young Persons (Licensing of Homes) Regulations, and Section 24 of the Children and Young Persons (Government Home) Regulations.
“Recalling its general recommendation No. 35 (2017) on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19 (1992) on violence against women, and its previous recommendations (CEDAW/C/SGP/CO/4, para.24), the Committee recommends that the State party: …
(f) Revise article 89 of the Penal Code, article 64 of the Women’s Charter, Section 27 of the Children and Young Persons (Licensing of Homes) Regulations, and Section 24 of the Children and Young Persons (Government Home) Regulations to prohibit and eliminate corporal punishment of children, including girls, in all settings.”