The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) supports worldwide efforts to abolish the use of corporal punishment for the discipline of children.

Corporal punishment is defined as “the use of physical force with the intention of causing bodily pain or discomfort so as to change the subject’s behaviour or to punish them.”

The following oral statement was made to the Human Rights Council in Geneva by Babu Gogineni on 19 March 2007 on behalf of IHEU and WPF.

Mr President,

The practice of child marriage has all but disappeared from Western society, but is still all too prevalent elsewhere. It runs hand in hand with other forms of violence against girls and young women.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION
UNION INTERNATIONALE HUMANISTE ET LAIQUE

Statement by Main Representative: Roy BROWN, Wednesday 7th April 2004
UN Commission on Human Rights: 60th session. (15 March - 23 April 2004)

Item 13. Rights of the Child

[The words shown in square brackets [] were not spoken]

Abuse of Children in the name of Religion

IHEU Letter to the Independent Expert for the UN Study on Violence Against Children -- December 2002 -- To: Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Independent Expert for the UN Study on Violence Against Children

Dear Professor Pinheiro,

Whereas children's rights have gained official recognition ever since 1990 when the United Nations hosted the World Summit on Children where 71 countries adopted goals to improve children's lives by 2000;

Whereas the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified by 187 nations, making it the most widely accepted human rights treaty ever;

The International Humanist & Ethical Union

* Noting that the United Nations in its charter declares the dignity and worth of the human person and the equal rights of men and women;

Based on the premise that the needs of war are formed in the human mind, it becomes important not to plant such seeds in the minds of children by providing them with war toys and war games;

Noting that toy soldiers, toy guns and tanks and all war games make children think of war as an acceptable part of life and a way of settling conflicts:

When children play with war toys and engage in war games, they only see the fun and excitement. They do not see the horror. In real life the dead do not get up again, and

The International Humanist & Ethical Union:

Having regard for the right to life as recognised by article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Considering that the prohibition of the death sentence increasingly comes within the ambit of international human rights standards adopted by governments, the United Nations and within regional intergovernmental organisations,

Reiterating its total opposition to any form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment,

In many parts of the world children are kidnapped or bought to be exploited by a cynical sex and pornography industry. The 1986 Humanist World Congress regards this crime as violation of the human rights of that part of humanity which above all requires our protection, children.

The physical, emotional and psychological damage suffered by the children is even worse than the generally harmful consequences for the children's educational and intellectual development. The result is often autism, psychoses and suicide. Medical reports mention cases of severe physical mutilation including damage to sex organs and anus. Sexually transmitted diseases are widespread, and the evidence of drug abuse overwhelming.

On behalf the International Humanist & Ethical Union representatives attended the United Nations World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna. This Assembly was attended by 110 countries and several hundred representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations.