CAT/C/CRI/CO/2 page 7 Corporal punishment 23. The Committee notes with satisfaction that corporal punishment is banned in education and in juvenile prisons. However, in the family, article 143 of the Family Code states that parents have the right to correct children in a moderate manner, which has been interpreted as allowing the use of corporal punishment (art. 16). The Committee takes note of the bill to abolish physical punishment of children and young people submitted to the Legislative Assembly by the Ombudsman, and the setting up of a group to discuss the issue. It encourages the State party to expedite the complete prohibition of corporal punishment of children. Domestic violence and violence against women and children 24. The Committee takes note of the efforts made by the State party to eradicate domestic violence. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the representative of the State party indicating that there is no legal obstacle to the application of Act No. 7586 on domestic violence to same-sex couples. However, according to information received by the Committee, the authorities often fail to register or properly investigate reports of domestic violence lodged by persons with a partner of the same sex (art. 16). 25. The Committee regrets the lack of data broken down by sex and age and the lack of precision in the conceptualization of violence against women and children and the categories of analysis and variables used (art. 16). The State party should ensure the protection of all victims of domestic violence and other ill-treatment without any discrimination through the registration and investigation of all cases of torture, as well as the prosecution and conviction of those responsible for such acts. The Committee encourages the State party to set up appropriate programmes to raise awareness among the security forces of domestic violence, including sexual violence and violence against children. The Committee urges the State party to devise a system for the collection of disaggregated data, studies and analyses on the issue of violence against women and children. 26. The Committee notes with satisfaction the creation of the post of Ombudsman as a means of preventing torture under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and recommends that it should receive adequate funds to perform that function effectively. 27. The State party is urged to disseminate widely the reports it submits to the Committee, its replies to the list of issues, the summary records of the meetings and the concluding observations, and the summary records of the Committee, in the appropriate languages, by means of official websites, the media and non-governmental organizations.

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