The complaint, lodged on 23 September 2003, relates to Article 17 (the right of mothers and children to social and economic protection) of the European Social Charter. It is alleged that Belgium has not effectively prohibited all corporal punishment of children, nor has it prohibited any other form 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 23 September 2003
• Case document no. 2,  Observations from the Belgian Government on admissibility
• Case document no. 3, Additional information from the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) on the admissibility
• Case document no. 4, Observations from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) on the merits
• Case document no. 5, Observation from the Belgian Government on the merits
• Case document no. 6, Additional information from the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) on the merits
• Case document no. 7, Supplementary observations from the Belgian Government on the merits
• Case document no. 8, Additional information from the World Organisation (OMCT) against Torture 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 a 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)10 on 8 June 2005.
 

 Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 21/2003

 Decision on the merits of the Complaint 21/2003

 Resolution ResChS(2005)10 of the Committee of Ministers on 8 June 2005