Forty-one Countries Put Forth a Significant Urge to Protect Children’s Rights

Forty-one countries have made the first-ever joint statement addressing children’s fundamental right to be protected against all forms of violence and pleading for all delinquent States to uphold children’s protection by taking action.

“Almost twenty years ago, the UN Secretary General called for the universal prohibition of all corporal punishment. […] Yet, in over 125 States, corporal punishment remains legally permissible, continuing to undermine the human rights, dignity, and well-being of children. […] We wish to draw attention to this human rights issue and encourage States to take appropriate legislative reforms […] to prohibit and eliminate all corporal punishment of children in all settings, […]  and promote non-violent forms of discipline that will uphold children’s dignity, physical integrity, and equal protection under the law.

Corporal punishment not only violates children’s right to respect for their human dignity and physical integrity but also their rights to health, development, education, and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The joint statement was made during the 58^th session of the Human Rights Council, led by Costa Rica and Kenya, and supported by 39 other States, including Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, France, Japan, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Mongolia and South Africa.