In its decisions published today on the merits of the complaints Association for the Protection of All Children (APPROACH) Ltd v. Czech Republic, Complaint No. 96/2013 (more information) , and Association for the Protection of All Children (APPROACH) Ltd v. Belgium , the European Committee on Social Rights found that, in the Czech Republic and Belgium, the corporal punishment of children is not prohibited in a sufficiently clear, binding and precise manner under domectic legislation or case-law, as regards the Czech Republic, contrary to Article 17 of the 1961 Charter (the right of mothers and children to social and economic protection) and as regards Belgium, contrary to Article 17 of the Revised Charter (the right of children and young persons to social, legal and economic protection).
The decisions come after a collective complaint was lodged with the Council of Europe in February 2013 against seven member countries, by an INGO holding participatory status with the Council of Europe, the Association for the Protection of All Children (APPROACH), because of “the lack of explicit and effective prohibition of all corporal punishment of children, in the family, schools and other settings”.
