The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel and degrading forms of punishment 2006, para. 11

Paragraph
Paragraph text
The Committee defines "corporal" or "physical" punishment as any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves hitting ("smacking", "slapping", "spanking") children, with the hand or with an implement - a whip, stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon, etc. But it can also involve, for example, kicking, shaking or throwing children, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair or boxing ears, forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions, burning, scalding or forced ingestion (for example, washing children's mouths out with soap or forcing them to swallow hot spices). In the view of the Committee, corporal punishment is invariably degrading. In addition, there are other non-physical forms of punishment that are also cruel and degrading and thus incompatible with the Convention. These include, for example, punishment which belittles, humiliates, denigrates, scapegoats, threatens, scares or ridicules the child.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Committee on the Rights of the Child
Document type
General Comment / Recommendation
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
  • Equality & Inclusion
  • Governance & Rule of Law
  • Harmful Practices
  • Violence
Person(s) affected
  • Children
Year
2006
Paragraph type
Other
Reference
CRC General Comment No. 8, The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel and degrading forms of punishment (2006), para. 11.
Paragraph number
11