EURONET Questionnaire Combating Corporal Punishment against Children

1. EURONET Questionnaire Combating Corporal Punishment against Children Summary of main findings General Assembly Day 30th September 2008

2. The questionnaire • Objectives • Responses from members • Structure: • Part I: Review of the legislation • Part II: Exchanges of practices on the basis of the campaigns carried out by members

3. Legislation on Corporal Punishment in EU Member States • 13 of the 27 EU Member States have no legislation banning corporal punishment of children. • According to the Council of Europe, 7 of these 13 States have on some level commited to introducing the ban.

4. Legislation on Corporal Punishment in the EU EU countries where legislation bans corporal punishment against children. EU countries where there is no ban on corporal punishment against children. EU Candidate Countries Non-EU countries

5. Main Trends Observed • There is still an alarming presence of corporal punishment even in those countries with full prohibition • If corporal punishment is not outlawed, it is usually considered to be acceptable • A decrease in the prevalence of corporal punishment was noticed once a law was put in place • The law is the first necessary step, which should be followed by awareness-raising and parents/public education campaigns

6. High prevalence of CP against children in countries with full prohibition • Romania: CP banned in 2002 2006 UNICEF report: 73% of parents still admit the use of corporal punishment as a discipline method. • Italy: CP banned in 1996 69% of the population interviewed in a 2004 study said that it was acceptable for parents to smack their children • Austria: CP banned in 1989 Alarming data from the police

7. If corporal punishment is not outlawed, it is usually considered to be acceptable • Belgium: NO BAN 2004 study: 77 % of the respondents in a believe that it is acceptable to smack children • UK: NO BAN 2007 research : 3 in 10 parents with a child under 18 years old had smacked their child in the last year • Poland: NO BAN 2001 Study: 80% of Poles declared to have experienced corporal punshment during childhood

8. A decrease in the prevalence of corporal punishment was noticed once the law was put in place • Finland: Banned since 1981 1981: 47% of adults declared that CP was acceptable 2006: 29% accepted CP at least in exceptional cases • Romania: Banned since 2000 2000: 47% of the parents interviewd in a WHO study declared that they used CP as a disciplinary method 2003: 29% of the respondents of a study declared to have used CP against children

9. Passing the law is the first step-necessary but far from sufficient-in changing attitudes and behaviours Major parents and public education campaigns should be carried out to ensure behaviors changing once the law adopted Sweden : Banned since 1979 1979: Vast majority of parents against the ban 2000: Vast majority of parents for the ban. Programme of public education and support accompanied the change in the law.

10. Lack and inconsistency of data on CP Data on CP are: • Not nationally representative • Not Available per year • Referring to different target groups and to different national definition • Inconsistent from country to country Recommendations: • Set up harmonized indicators across countries • Harmonize collection methods • Promote research on the impact of the law • Disaggregate crime statistics by age

11. CAMPAIGNS TOWARDS THE BAN Identification of institutional supporters within the Governments and the Parliament Promotional materials What has been effective Slogans and messages E-forum and internet website Involvement of the media Consultation with Children Support by famous people Street campaigns

12. Arguments for an EU SUPPORT • THE EU COULD SEND AN INTERNATIONAL REMINDER TO MEMBER STATES ON WHAT THEY SHOULD DO • THE EU COULD SUPPORT DATA COLLECTION • THE EU COULD PLAY A ROLE in FACILITATING EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND POOLING OF KNOWLEDGE, LESSONS LEARNT and BEST PRACTICES

13. THANKS For your attention For your contribution!!!