The complaint, lodged on 31 July 2003, relates to Article 17 (the right of children and young persons to social, legal and economic protection) of the Revised European Social Charter. It is alleged that Portuguese law has not effectively prohibited corporal punishment of children, nor has it prohibited other forms of degrading punishment or treatment of children and provided adequate sanctions in penal or civil law.

• Case document no. 1, Complaint registered by the Secretariat on 31 July 2003
• Case document no. 2,  Observations from the Portuguese Government on admissibility
• Case document no. 3, Observations from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) on the merits
• Case document no. 4, Observations from the Portuguese Government on the merits
• Case document no. 5, Additional information from the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) on the merits
• Case document no. 6, Additional information from the Portuguese Government on the merits
• Case document no. 7, Additional observations from the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) on the merits

The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 9 December 2003.

The European Committee of Social Rights concluded that there was no violation of Article 17 and transmitted its report containing its decision on the merits of the complaint to the Parties and to the Committee of Ministers on 26 January 2005.

The Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution ResChS(2005)2 on 20 April 2005.
 

 Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 20/2003

 Decision on the merits of the Complaint 20/2003

 Resolution ResChS(2005)2 of the Committee of Ministers on 20 April 2005