Summary:

This report provides supplementary information on Bulgaria's second periodic report on the implementation of the CRC. The Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children submits a briefing to each Pre-sessional Working Group of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The briefings summarise the legal status of corporal punishment in each of the States to be examined, together with any research evidence of prevalence of corporal punishment. The briefing covers corporal punishment in all settings - the home, alternative care, schools and penal systems.

http://www.crin.org/docs/Bulgaria_GI_NGO_Report.doc

Contact Information:

Global Intitiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children
94, White Lion Street
London, N1 9PF

Tel: +44 20 7713 0569
Email: info@endcorporalpunishment.org
Website: www.endcorporalpunishment.org

Last updated 14/04/2008 04:12:59

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.

Your Feedback

Fortune F Sithole wrote on 30/09/2009:
I come from Zimbabwe and I believe there is a need for a global campaign against corporal punishment. The act is mainly rampant in African countries due to entrenched cultural beliefs. There is ignorance when it comes to respecting and upholding children's rights. The common saying in Africa is that "spare a rod and spoil the child". Therefore, in Zimbabwe the act is very common in schools, homes, courts of the law as a form of discipline. The Education Act even legalised corporal punishment which degrades children despite being a signatory to the CRC and acknowledging the right to education.

Vassilena Dotkova wrote on 03/03/2009:
Corporal punishment is a predominant form of discipline in many Bulgarian families - informal online polls have shown that over 90 per cent of parents sometimes resort to it and most of them don't see it as an instance of domestic violence.
Bulgarian citizens are largely unaware that corporal punishment is illegal or that it is indeed an issue for society at all. I have not seen a single publication in the media or on the websites of government institutions on this issue.
Bulgarian parents and children are in dire need of an awareness-raising campaign about corporal punishment. I would personally volunteer to contribute to such efforts in any way I can. I hope more people get to hear on this extremely important issue as soon as possible.

Vassilena Dotkova wrote on 03/03/2009:
As a parent and active blogger on children's issues I have been following the process of banning corporal punishment in my country closely.
I am not happy that the current legislation does not expressly mention corporal punishment in all its forms. Instead, it uses general formulations which sound rather obscure and allow for a great deal of free interpretation. Furthermore, the provisions of the current legislation against corporal punishment have never been used in practice in a Bulgarian court, there is no case history to show that they work and being aware of the permissive attitude to corporal punishment in Bulgaria, I am personally very skeptical that this legislation will ever be operative.