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ICELAND, April 2003: In March of 2003, Iceland’s government passed a new law called the Children’s Act which calls for “The total abolition of corporal punishment of children by making it unlawful in the home.” Article 28 of the new Act states: “It is the parents’ obligation to protect their child against any physical or mental violence and other degrading or humiliating behavior.”



UKRAINE AND ROMANIA, June 2004: On January 1, 2005, a new Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of the Child in Romania will come into force. The law was originally passed by the Romanian Parliament on June 15, 2004, and it prohibits all corporal punishment. Similarly, the Ukraine enacted a new Family Code in January, 2004, that bans all corporal punishment.



CANADA, January 2005: The news release says, “A Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth has been developed by a national coalition of organizations in Canada. Based on an extensive review of research, the Joint Statement provides an overview of the developmental outcomes associated with the use of corporal punishment: ‘The evidence is clear and compelling – physical punishment of children and youth plays no useful role in their upbringing and poses only risks to their development. The conclusion is equally compelling – parents should be strongly encouraged to develop alternative and positive approaches to discipline.’ ” Presently the criminal code in Canada allows parents, teachers and some other careers to use reasonable force to correct children. However, a judgement of the Supreme Court in January 2004 strictly limits corporal punishment.



SIERRA LEONE AND MALTA, January 2005: Both these countries have commissions that have recommended that corporal punishment be abandoned in both schools and the home environments.



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