Doc. 10955
10 June 2006

Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights on article 17 of the European Social Charter and Revised Social Charter

Written question No 496 to the Committee of Ministers
presented by Mrs Bargholtz

In conclusions issued by the European Committee of Social Rights between 2003 and July 2005 following examination of states’ reports under article 17 of the European Social Charter or Revised Social Charter, the Committee concluded that the following states, among others, were not in conformity because corporal punishment within the family, and in some cases in other settings, is not prohibited: Poland, France, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Malta, Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic, Netherlands, United Kingdom.

Mrs Bargholtz

To ask the Committee of Ministers,

What action is the Committee of Ministers taking to ensure that children in these member-states are effectively protected from all corporal punishment in the home and in all other settings, as required by the European Social Charter and Revised Social Charter?

In view of the fact that these conclusions concern the basic protection of the rights of children, whom the human rights mechanisms of the Council of Europe have recognized as particularly vulnerable, what action does the Committee of Ministers propose to take to expedite action?

Signed ¹:

BARGHOLTZ, Helena, Sweden, ALDE

¹        SOC: Socialist Group
       EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group