Corporal punishment is prohibited in schools.
Article 34 of the CRC protects children against violence.
Section 227 of the Penal Code assimilates deprivation of food or care likely to undermine
the health of a child below 13 to the violence defined in section 226 thereof.
These acts constitute aggravating circumstances:
The abandonment of a child or incapacitated person is considered as an
offence provided for and punished under sections 253 and 254 of the Penal
Code;
The enticement of minors as provided for under sections 255 to 258 of the
Penal Code.
c2. Limitations
Traditionally, corporal punishment is part of the means of education of children.
Sometimes, such punishment is in the form of physical violence leaving indelible traces on
the children.
Society‟s reluctance to report these practices to the competent authorities;
Such an act would be perceived as interference in the family‟s affairs;
The lack of sensitization on the negative consequences of these practices ;
Instances of prosecution are rare because very few cases are brought to the
knowledge of judges.
c3. Achievements
National and international instruments exist which protect children from these abuses.
The association SOS femmes et enfants victimes de violence carries out awareness
campaigns.
The PARED Project and SUJEP carry out actions targeting parents for a better protection
of child rights.
D. Sexual exploitation and abuse (article 27)
d1. Legislative, administrative and judicial measures
The Penal Code defines most of the sexual violence perpetrated against minors as
criminal acts and punishes them as such. Sexual harassment with or without violence on
minors below 13 (section 278 and 280) is punished with prison sentences ranging from 2
to less than 10 years and from 10 to 20 years.
This punishment also extends to acts of impropriety perpetrated on minors of the same
sex. Rape of minor is also characterized as a felony.
Other offences such as procuring, inducement to debauchery and enticement of minor are
severely punished by the law.
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