The Global Initiative has recently confirmed that amendments to Montenegro’s Family Law, passed in July 2016, included prohibition of all corporal punishment of children in Montenegro. The amendments, which came into force in August 2016, inserted article 9a which states:

(1) Child [sic] shall not be subjected to corporal punishment or any other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

(2) The prohibition referred to in para 1 above shall pertain to parents, guardians and all other persons taking care of or coming into contact with the child.

(3) The persons referred to in para 2 above are obliged to protect the child from any treatment referred to in para 1 above.”

Prior to the legislative reform, corporal punishment was still lawful in the home, alternative care settings and some day care settings.

Montenegro’s prohibition of corporal punishment – together with bans subsequently achieved in Paraguay, Slovenia and Lithuania – brings to 53 the number of states worldwide, and 32 Council of Europe member states, which have prohibited all corporal punishment of children. As a Pathfinder country under the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, we hope more states will be inspired to follow Montenegro’s achievement for the fundamental rights of children!

Further information

• Further information on the reform in Montenegro
• Individual country report on law, treaty body recommendations and relevant research in Lithuania
• The latest facts and figures on global progress towards prohibition