The 27th session of the Universal Periodic Review, which introduced the mechanism’s third cycle, closed on 12 May 2017. Fourteen states were reviewed on their overall human rights record and ten states received recommendations relating to corporal punishment:

• The Governments of Ecuador and Indonesia supported recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. This represents a new commitment to law reform from Indonesia, which brings the number of states committed to full prohibition of corporal punishment to 55.
• Algeria, Bahrain, India, Morocco, South Africa and the UK received recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings. Their respective Governments must respond to the recommendations prior to the 36th session of the Human Rights Council to be held in September 2017.
• The Kingdom of the Netherlands received recommendations to enact prohibition of corporal punishment in Aruba and the Caribbean Netherlands. The Government will respond to the recommendations by September 2017. Moreover, the Netherlands’ national report referred to new legislation in Aruba which would have prohibited corporal punishment in the family – we are seeking to verify this information.
• Finland and Brazil, where prohibition was achieved in 1983 and 2014 respectively, received recommendations to enforce implementation of the ban and promote positive discipline.

Poland and Tunisia did not receive recommendations on corporal punishment, having prohibited its use in all settings. The Philippines did not get a recommendation to prohibit corporal punishment, despite the legality of its use in the home.