Lawfulness of corporal punishment

Home

Corporal punishment is lawful in the home.

Section VII of the Criminal Code concerns “Crimes and Offences towards children”. Articles 243 to 246 punish knocks, injuries and violence towards children under the age of 15. “Light violence” is an offence under article 421.

Schools

Corporal punishment is prohibited in schools, but there is no explicit prohibition in law. It is not among the permitted disciplinary measures listed in the Education Law (2007).

Penal system

Corporal punishment is unlawful as a sentence for crime. It is not a permitted sanction for crime under the Criminal Code.

Corporal punishment is considered unlawful as a disciplinary measure in penal institutions, but there is no explicit prohibition in legislation.

Alternative care

There is no explicit prohibition of corporal punishment in other institutions and forms of childcare.

Workplace

No information.

Prevalence research

None identified.

Recommendations by human rights treaty bodies

“The Committee is concerned that corporal punishment is not prohibited under law.

“The Committee recommends that the State party prohibit the practice of corporal punishment in the family and conduct information campaigns targeting, among others, parents, children, law enforcement and judicial officials and teachers, explaining children’s rights in this regard and encouraging the use of alternative forms of discipline in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in conformity with the Convention, especially articles 19 and 28.2.”
(8 June 2001, CRC/C/15/Add.158, Concluding observations on initial report, paras. 26 and 27)