Launch ceremony of the Council of Europe Initiative against Corporal Punishment of Children

Speech by Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Zagreb, 15 June

Many years ago, corporal punishment was very much in fashion, in all parts of the world and in many different settings - from prison to home, military units, mental hospitals, even places of work -people were physically hurt for all sort of offences, or none at all.

Times have fortunately changed. Today we live in civilised and humane societies which no longer allow human beings to inflict physical pain and humiliate other human beings. Except when it comes to children. Somehow, they were left out in this great humanistic evolution, and in many places it is still perfectly normal to smack them and do all other things that would most likely land you in prison if you tried them on someone your own size.

We have therefore decided at the Council of Europe to launch this awareness-raising campaign to protect children from corporal punishment AND to challenge society’s perception of the child as a mini human being with mini human rights.

There are many good reasons why corporal punishment of children should be abolished:

Corporal punishment is a violation of children’s rights to physical integrity, human dignity and equal protection under the law.

Corporal punishment teaches children that violence is an acceptable and appropriate strategy for resolving conflict or getting people to do what they want.

Corporal punishment is ineffective as a means of discipline.

The Council of Europe initiative aims to abolish corporal punishment in all settings – schools, penal systems, alternative care structures, and in particular, in the home. This is also our response to the recommendations contained in the United Nations Secretary General’s study on violence against children, which has set 2009 as the target date for achieving universal abolition of corporal punishment.

The legal and political basis for our action against corporal punishment are as clear as our motives to act: the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Social Charter and the case-law of the Social Rights Committee, decisions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, recommendations by the Parliamentary Assembly, judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

Now that we know why, we should look into “how”. What needs to be done to eliminate corporal punishment?

Abolishing corporal punishment requires intensive work in at least three areas. The first one is legal reform.

Abolishing corporal punishment calls for a legal framework which clearly prohibits corporal punishment and protects children from all kinds of assaults including in the family setting.

Eighteen countries in Europe have abolished corporal punishment. Sweden was the first one to do it and the Swedish example is remarkable as it clearly shows – through a whole generation - how society has evolved following legal reform, positive parenting policies and awareness-raising. Contrary to what many believe, legal prohibition is however not restricted to Scandinavian countries. Countries from the south of Europe, such as Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Portugal, but also Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine have joined Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway in banning the corporal punishment of children.

The second facet of our action is the promotion of positive parenting.

Positive parenting refers to parental behaviour that is based on the best interest of the child: it is nurturing, empowering, and provides recognition and guidance to enable the child’s full development.

Finally, we will work on awareness-raising. Most European societies still tolerate corporal punishment as a means of disciplining children. There is a compelling need to send out a clear message that children have the right to protection from all kinds of violence and to equal protection under the law.

But we will not be able to accomplish this task by working alone. Even with the best will and the best of luck, the Council of Europe will not be able to reach the 800 million people living in Europe. We are most grateful to all the partners who are joining us in our efforts to challenge violence against children. We are particularly grateful to the governments supporting our initiative, in particular to our host Croatia, to Sweden as the Chair of the Committee of Ministers and to Finland, who has provided considerable financial support.

We are also encouraged by the co-operation with other international organisations such as UNICEF, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and others.

We particularly appreciate the assistance, advice and support from civil society. The help of the National Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Children, a UK charity and Saatchi & Saatchi, has been decisive in the realisation of the TV spot. At the Council of Europe, we like saying “children’s rights concern us all”.

I now invite you to view the TV spot prepared in co-operation with the National Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Children, and Saatchi and Saatchi. It carries a wonderful and powerful message “Hands should nurture, not punish”.

I think this says it all.

Thank you very much.