Global Initiative News

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights adopts resolution against corporal punishment of all persons deprived of their liberty

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:31:33 +0100

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has adopted a new resolution which states that all persons deprived of their liberty – for whatever reason – have the right to protection from corporal punishment and the right to complain if they do experience corporal punishment. The resolution was approved unanimously by the Commission.

More on this resolution and a link to the document...

New book documents how prohibition was achieved in New Zealand

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:21:51 +0100

A new book, published in February 2008, documents events leading to the achievement of full prohibition of corporal punishment in New Zealand in 2007, when the legal defence of using reasonable force "by way of correction", used by parents who had assaulted their children, was repealed.

Unreasonable Force: New Zealand’s Journey Towards Banning the Physical Punishment of Children, written by Beth Wood, Ian Hassall and George Hook with Robert Ludbrook, examines the 40 years of advocacy and debate which led to the repeal last year of section 59 of the Crimes Act.

The book identifies the factors that contributed to a climate in New Zealand where law reform was eventually possible, explores the roots of the old law on physical discipline in early Roman law and English common law, considers the role of religious convictions in the use of physical punishment and opposition to reform, examines the human rights imperative to give children equal protection from assault, and investigates the role of the media in the national debate. It also looks at what lies ahead now that legal prohibition is in place.

The book can be ordered using this order form (PDF).

Global Initiative e-newsletter Issue 2 (April 2008) now available

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:14:46 +0100

The second issue of the Global Initiative e-newsletter is now available, covering progress towards prohibition, new research and campaigns, and human rights treaty monitoring between mid-February and mid-April.

The newsletter is sent automatically to supporters of the Global Initiative and others who have expressed an interest. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact info@endcorporalpunishment.org.

Download Issue 2 (April 2008)

Human Rights Council urges States to prohibit corporal punishment

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:31:04 +0100

At its seventh session in March, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the rights of the child. In the preamble, the Council emphasises “that the Convention on the Rights of the Child must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child”, and welcomes the report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children (which had recommended prohibition of all corporal punishment in all settings, including the home) and general comment No. 8 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (on the child’s right to protection from all corporal punishment).
More on this story...

Amnesty International calls for prohibition of corporal punishment in schools

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:56:54 +0000

As part of its campaign to Stop Violence Against Women, Amnesty International has published Safe Schools: Every girl’s right. The report describes how violence at school, including corporal punishment, breaches girls’ right to protection from all forms of violence as well as constituting an obstacle to the right to education.
Go to this article...

Universal Periodic Review summaries now available

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:09:00 +0000

The first session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – the examination by the Human Rights Council of states’ implementation of their human rights obligations – will be held in April 2008. As part of the process, non-government organisations (“stakeholders”) submit relevant information in advance which is then summarised into a single document for each state before being presented to the Council. Summaries of the information submitted for the first session have now been published.