Major conference held in Europe
27 June 2014
On 3rd and 4th June 2014, the Swedish Government hosted a high-level conference to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 35th anniversary of Sweden’s pioneering ban on all corporal punishment of children. The explicit purpose was to place the issue of a legal ban on all corporal punishment on the international political agenda and to encourage states to work together to accelerate reform.
The Global Initiative prepared a special report for the conference, Childhood free from corporal punishment – changing law and practice.
The report contains facts and figures on reform in all regions and is a celebration of progress to date as well as a call to action for all states to complete the process of law reform. It includes a new checklist of actions that can be taken by states collaboratively to work towards universal prohibition of violent punishment of children.
A section entitled Violent punishment of children: effects and associations summarises evidence of the relationship between corporal punishment and other forms of violence and damaging outcomes for children. A section on The Impact of Prohibition presents research from some countries that have achieved full reform. There is strong evidence of changes in attitudes and practice following law reform.
A soft-handed approach
15 May 2014
We know that law change is only part of changing attitudes about use of physical punishment with children. While law change is a significant component of changing attitudes about hitting children it should ideally be accompanied by effective distribution of information about the harms physical punishment can cause and about positive discipline. Here is a novel idea:
In the Philippines, Save the Children has partnered with a local company called Indigobaby on a public awareness campaign called “Softhands” The company has developed a hand lotion called “Softhands” which they give away for free at parenting events, mall booths, and other promotional events – if parents take a pledge to not use corporal punishment. Each bottle has an explicit message about the harms of corporal punishment and calls for “a soft approach.”.
Number of countries introducing legal prohibitions increases
25 March 2014
The number of states around the world that have legal prohibitions against the use of corporal punishment continues to increase steadily. There are now 37 states that prohibit the use of corporal punishment in all settlings. Recently Macedonia (36) and Malta (37) have been added to the list.
In Malta, corporal punishment became unlawful in the home under a 2014 amendment to the Criminal Code. Prior to reform, article 339 of the Criminal Code had made it an offence for a person who “being authorised to correct any other person, exceeds the bounds of moderation”, thus allowing the use of “moderate” corporal punishment in childrearing. In February 2014, this article was amended by the Criminal Code (Amendment No. 3) Act 2014 so that a clause was added which states: “Provided that, for the avoidance of any doubt, corporal punishment of any kind shall always be deemed to exceed the bounds of moderation.” As at March 2014, some legislation must still be formally amended to bring it into line with the prohibition of corporal punishment.
The Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children recently published a report “Ending legalized violence against children (Global Report 2013” . This report presents a full picture of progress and delays in achieving worldwide prohibition. The good news is that 5.2% of the world’s children are fully protected and another 68% are protected in some settings. Unfortunately 30% have no protection at all. The publication includes a world map showing which countries fully protect, which do so partially and which do not do so at all. New Zealand stands out at the bottom of the world as a country that fully protects its children.
Physical Punishment of Children in New Zealand – An Update
15 February 2014
Unicef New Zealand has recently published an information sheet on Physical Punishment in New Zealand. It has been developed in response to recent media items which have not been accurate and in which there has been a call for an overturning of the 2007 law so that physical punishment of children would again be legal in New Zealand. This is unlikely to happen but nevertheless it is unfortunate that attempts, based on misinformation, are being made reignite the debate in New Zealand. The information sheet provides some current information on research into the effects of physical punishment, on current attitudes to the 2007 law which amended s59 of the Crimes Act 1961 relating to physical punishment, on child abuse in New Zealand and some information about the current Australian situation.
Anglican Church a leader in calls for ending physical punishment in Wales
11 February 2014
A vigil was held at St David’s cathedral in Wales recently calling for an end to violence to children.
The Bishop said
"How we treat those who are weak and defenceless is a marker of a civilised society. Violence against those who can least resist it is a miasma which permeates all levels of life, both the public and the private, where children are concerned. Violence, both deliberate and directed and casual and unthinking and directed towards children especially, and by extension the disruption to the life of family and society, violence, especially when it has the sanction of the state and the law behind it, is pandemic."
The Bishop went on to say
"Physical punishment has for too long been a common part of our culture. But physical punishment as a form of discipline is incompatible with the core religious values of respect for children’s human dignity, justice and non-violence. There are no circumstances under which this painful and humiliating practice can be justified."
Peter Newell, Coordinator, Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, said
"This service at St Davids is a very welcome part of a global inter-faith and human rights movement to challenge and end violence against children disguised as discipline.
We all pray that the National Assembly will soon be able to vote on a cross-party amendment to remove the ‘reasonable punishment’ defence and thus give children in Wales the same protection from being hit and deliberately hurt as all other Welsh citizens. This has been the public policy of successive Welsh Governments for more than 11 years. In 2011, the First Minister confirmed that Wales has the devolved power now to go ahead and legislate. Wales could soon join the 35 states globally, 23 in Europe, which have already prohibited all violent punishment of children."
Nearly 130 organisations in Wales are signed up to the Children Are Unbeatable! Cymru campaign which aims to secure legal reform at the earliest opportunity. They include leading parenting, children’s rights and child protection organisations, as well as religious leaders. Click here for more details.
Global Report 2013
31 January 2014
The Global Initiative’s to End all Corporal Punishment of Children’s global progress report for 2013, was released in December 2013.
Ending legalised violence against children: Global report 2013 is the eighth report following up the UN Study on Violence against Children, reporting on progress worldwide towards prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings. At the time of publication 34 states had achieved full prohibition; another 49 were committed to doing so. But there are 24 states which do not fully prohibit corporal punishment in any setting, and in 39 states corporal punishment (caning, whipping, flogging) remains lawful as a sentence of the courts. Since the Global report’s publication another state has achieved full prohibition. Turkmenistan recently became the 35th country to ban all corporal punishment of children