Global progress towards prohibition is accelerating: there are 53 states and 7 territories worldwide which have achieved prohibition of all corporal punishment, and many of the 55 states committed to prohibition are currently discussing draft legislation which would achieve prohibition in all settings.

For further information, see the Global Initiative’s country report for Bahrain and the Countdown to universal prohibition page.

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• The Governments of Ecuador and Indonesia supported recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. This represents a new commitment to law reform from Indonesia, which brings the number of states committed to full prohibition of corporal punishment to 55.
• Algeria, Bahrain, India, Morocco, South Africa and the UK received recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings. Their respective Governments must respond to the recommendations prior to the 36th session of the Human Rights Council to be held in September 2017.
• The Kingdom of the Netherlands received recommendations to enact prohibition of corporal punishment in Aruba and the Caribbean Netherlands. The Government will respond to the recommendations by September 2017. Moreover, the Netherlands’ national report referred to new legislation in Aruba which would have prohibited corporal punishment in the family – we are seeking to verify this information.
• Finland and Brazil, where prohibition was achieved in 1983 and 2014 respectively, received recommendations to enforce implementation of the ban and promote positive discipline.

Poland and Tunisia did not receive recommendations on corporal punishment, having prohibited its use in all settings. The Philippines did not get a recommendation to prohibit corporal punishment, despite the legality of its use in the home.

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Recognising the many opportunities faith-based communities have to promote prohibition and elimination of corporal punishment of children including through religious and spiritual observances such as pilgrimages, prayers, retreats, vigils and religious and spiritual teachings, the handbook highlights opportunities for advocacy and action and encourages multi-religious collaboration including through global movements to end violence against children.

The handbook also contains a guide to reflection and discussion on A Multi-religious Commitment to End Violence against Children – Kyoto Declaration. This guide is also available in booklet form.

Download the handbook and guide here.

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Article 7(1) of the Law on the Rights of Children 2016 states (unofficial translation) states:

Children have the right to be protected from crime, offences or any forms of violence, physical punishment, psychological abuse, neglect and exploitation in all social settings.”

Article 2(6) of the Law on Child Protection 2016 states:

All types of physical and humiliating punishment against children by parents, guardians and third parties who are responsible for care, treatment, guidance and education of children and adolescents, during the upbringing and disciplining faulty behaviours of children are prohibited.”

Article 5(4) states:

During educating, upbringing and caring of children, parents, legal guardians, relatives, and teachers shall follow non-violent disciplinary methods.”

The new laws come into force on 1 September 2016.

With this reform, Mongolia becomes the 49^th state to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, including the home. It is the first state in Eastern and South Eastern Asia to achieve this reform.

Further information

• Further information on the reform in Mongolia
• The Global Initiative’s country report for Mongolia
• The latest facts and figures on global progress towards prohibition
• Table of progress worldwide towards universal prohibition

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This new briefing from the Global Initiative summarises progress to date towards prohibiting corporal punishment in ASEAN member states, identifies the law reform necessary in each state to achieve full prohibition and the current opportunities for doing so. It has been prepared for circulation at two high profile meetings being held this month in the Philippines – the Regional Consultation on the Elimination of Violence against Children and Improved Public Investment on Children on 15-16 October, organised by Child Rights Coalition Asia, and the 11^th meeting of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), 18-20 October.

The adoption globally of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its target of ending all violence against children provides a new and immediate context for focussing attention in all regions on what can be done to speed progress towards fulfilling this most fundamental obligation under human rights law.

The briefing is available for download here.

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