Date: October 2008

Global Report 2008 on worldwide progress towards prohibition

The last 12 months have seen rapid progress towards prohibiting corporal punishment in countries across the world. The Global Report 2008, published this month by the Global Initiative and Save the Children Sweden, documents this progress, which has seen the total number of states achieving full prohibition grow to 23, including the first Latin American states (Uruguay, Venezuela and Costa Rica) and the first English speaking state (New Zealand). More states have made firm commitments to law reform, with 17 governments publicly committing themselves to prohibition and law reform under way in at least a further seven.

For the first time, the report includes information on national campaigns in nearly all regions, including Latin America, North America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It also covers the Council of Europe’s region-wide campaign to make Europe a “corporal punishment-free zone”, and other international campaigns.

The report provides an up to date overview of the obligation to prohibit under international human rights law, and includes a global table of states’ progress towards meeting this obligation.

Together with information on useful resources to support law reform and on building faith-based support for prohibition, the report is both a snapshot of progress to date and an inspiration and resource for those just beginning the process.

Download the 2008 Global Report here (PDF)

For further information, contact info@endcorporalpunishment.org

Top