CRC General Comment on Corporal Punishment

Summary: The Committee on the Rights of the Child ended its 42nd session last Friday and adopted a new General Comment (number 8) on the question of corporal punishment.

The Committee regularly adopts "general comments" based on specific articles, provisions and themes of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to assist the States parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Convention and to stimulate international organisations and specialised agencies in achieving the full realisation of the rights recognised in the Convention.

Members may propose at any time that a general comment relating to a specific article, provision or theme be prepared. The Committee sometimes decide to develop a general comment on an article, provision or theme that has been discussed earlier in one of its General Day of Discussion. The Committee generally shares draft general comments with selected number of experts, including those from the other treaty bodies, for comments.

Following its two General Discussion Days on violence against children, held in 2000 and 2001, the Committee on the Rights of the Child resolved to issue a series of General Comments concerning eliminating violence against children, of which General Comment 8 is the first.

The Committee aims to guide States parties in understanding the provisions of the Convention concerning the protection of children against all forms of violence. This General Comment focuses on corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment, which are currently very widely accepted and practiced forms of violence against children.

Further information:

pdf: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/co/CRC.C.GC.8.pdf

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