On 29 May 2015, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Social Rights unanimously decided that the government of Belgium had failed to effectively and explicitly prohibit all forms of corporal punishment of children.
Belgium currently violates article 17 of the European Social Chart, which requires each State Party’s criminal law to explicitly penalize the different forms of ill-treatment of children.
DCI-Belgium considers that an explicit law would lead to the effective prohibition of corporal punishment and would ensure better protection of children. The aim is not to condemn parents but rather to encourage a change in attitudes and promote non-violent education.
To read DCI-Belgium press release (only in French), click here.