As delivered

Dear ministers, dear participants, dear friends

I would like to thank the Austrian Government for hosting this meeting, as a follow-up to the inaugural conference hosted by Sweden in 2014.

The United Nations has consistently stated that physical punishment of children is not compatible with its Convention for the Rights of the Child. 10 years ago, the then UN Secretary General released the Pinheiro Study on Violence Against Children – a watershed document which helped put this issue on the global agenda.

Here in Europe, at regional level, the Council of Europe has worked towards prohibition for three decades.

Rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and decisions by the European Committee of Social Rights have clearly stated that corporal punishment is not in accordance with human rights standards. Our recently launched Strategy on the rights of the child calls on member states to put an end to corporal punishment in all settings, anchoring this important objective yet again in our work.

Over the years, much has been achieved.

29 Council of Europe member states have now adopted legislation outlawing all forms of corporal punishment: Ireland (2015), Andorra (2014), Estonia (2014) and Malta (2014) are the latest to join the list. A number of other states are moving steadily towards this end. This makes us extremely proud.

But it is also clear that challenges remain.

The question of outlawing corporal punishment does not yet command a full consensus.

There are still loud voices – particularly in politics and in parts of the media – who not only see this as a low priority, but who actively object.

You’ve all heard their arguments: there’s nothing wrong with the odd smack; it didn’t do me any harm; who are these interfering bureaucrats telling parents what they can and can’t do in the privacy of their own homes?

Except, it isn’t always just a smack, is it? Sometimes it’s a beating.

It isn’t a rarity. In 2014, UNICEF revealed that about 80% of children aged 2-14 from 62 countries are subject to violent discipline in the home.

And it does do harm. Study after study shows that physical punishments for children can result in serious bodily and psychological damage; humiliation; low self-esteem; academic difficulties; and these children frequently repeat the cycle when they become parents themselves.

I was fortunate: neither of my parents ever raised a hand to me, and I – in turn – have never raised a hand against either of my daughters or my son. But many children are not so lucky.

They are human beings. They are human rights bearers, just like adults. They deserve the same respect.

In 2015, the Council of Europe carried out a survey in which we asked children how they see their rights.

We heard from boys and girls who told us that they value their family relationships above everything, but that sometimes their parents use violence against them for no reason apart from the fact that – and I quote – “they get annoyed either at work or at home”. This is how they see it.

When I imagine these children trying to make sense of the violence being used against them, I find it deeply irresponsible of anyone to present the movement against corporal punishment as somehow frivolous or interfering.

10 years ago the Pinheiro Study called for: “an end to adult justification of violence against children, whether accepted as ‘tradition’ or disguised as ‘discipline’ ”. It is as relevant today.

The fact that we meet here should give us hope: a country which has banned corporal punishment in the home, in day and alternative care settings, in schools and in penal institutions, showing that full prohibition can be recognised and embraced.

And for many years we saw the same permissive environment for violence against women – frequently legitimized as the private business of a husband and wife. Sadly in some places this is still the case. But, over time, huge progress has been made and perceptions have been transformed, thanks to the courage and consistency of campaigners, activists, enlightened politicians and international bodies.  In Europe they have worked hard together to put in place the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence.  This Convention includes children as direct victims of physical, sexual and psychological violence as well as children as witnesses to such violence in their homes.

We need to show the same courage and consistency now.  

We need to be clear and unapologetic in our message.

I therefore take this opportunity to call upon those remaining European states which have not yet reformed their legislation or committed themselves to doing so, to recognise this as a priority.

We need to reclaim the debate.

That means reaching out to parents, professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders to explain exactly what we mean – without judgment or moralising, and based on evidence and fact.

To help with this, in addition to a number of successful campaigns and handbooks, the Council of Europe and the European Commission have developed an online toolbox which showcases best practice and initiatives that have been undertaken in Council of Europe member states on the dangers of violent punishment, the benefits of positive, non-violent child-care methods, and children’s rights to protection from all forms of violence.

And we need to look for every opportunity to put corporal punishment on the political agenda.

In the Council of Europe we have recently established a new intergovernmental committee for the rights of the child. This will provide a platform to states which have banned corporal punishment to share their experiences with those who have not yet done so, in a spirit of collaboration.

And, of course, government-led events like this one send a very powerful message. It is a sign of commitment and leadership from the Austrian Government.  I am delighted to hear that President Coleiro Preca of Malta has offered yesterday to host the next Global Conference in her country.

With that, I thank our hosts once more and I wish you well for the rest of the Conference. Let me end by reaffirming the Council of Europe’s commitment to working with you all towards the goal of giving all children a life free from violence and harm. It is a mission that we share.