The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified physical punishment as a global public health concern, highlighting its detrimental effects on children. The organization asserts that physically punishing or scolding children for misdeeds can cause significant harm to their physical and mental health, potentially leading to the development of criminal behaviors.
A survey conducted by the WHO across 49 low- and middle-income nations revealed that children exposed to corporal punishment—defined as being hit or subjected to any form of discipline intended to inflict pain or discomfort, irrespective of severity—exhibited a 24 percent reduction in developmental prospects compared to their peers who were spared such treatment. Worldwide, approximately 1.2 billion children endure physical punishment annually. The report indicates that, within the past month, 17 percent of the children subjected to physical punishment experienced severe forms of it, such as being struck on the head, face, or ears, or being hit with significant force and frequency.
Parents, educators, and caregivers often justify such actions, claiming a desire to correct the child’s behavior and maintain discipline. They may perceive physical discipline as an expression of love, intended to prevent the child from going astray. However, such justifications are not supported by evidence.
The WHO’s Department for Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention asserts that there is now definitive scientific evidence demonstrating the multiple health risks associated with corporal punishment in children. It offers no benefits to children’s behavior, development, or well-being, nor does it provide any advantage to parents or society. In contrast, mental health professionals suggest that such punishment tends to increase anger and stubbornness in children. Therefore, physical punishment is not the appropriate solution.
Alternatives to physical punishment are recommended, including rational conversations where the child is lovingly educated on why their behavior is inappropriate and what consequences it may lead to. Positive reinforcement, where the child is praised and encouraged for desirable actions, further promotes the repetition of these behaviors.
The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development incorporates goals for ending violence against children, with target 16.2 specifically stating that “abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children must end.” However, despite five years having passed, this objective remains unfulfilled.
While corporal punishment is practiced globally and across different cultural contexts, regional variances exist. For instance, approximately 41 percent of children in Europe and Central Asia experience physical punishment at home, while this figure rises to 75 percent in the Middle East and North Africa. The disparity is even more pronounced in schools, with only 25 percent of children in the Western Pacific region encountering physical punishment during their education, compared to over 70 percent in Africa and Central America. Both girls and boys are affected almost equally. However, in some locations, girls might receive different treatments or methods of punishment.
The report also points out that children with disabilities are at a heightened risk of physical punishment. Moreover, the likelihood of such punishment is increased in impoverished communities and those facing economic or racial discrimination.
Psychological punishment, including humiliation, shaming, and intimidation, frequently accompanies physical punishment. In many societies, corporal punishment is not viewed as wrong, and it is often interwoven with religious and cultural traditions.
Currently, 68 out of 193 countries have completely banned physical punishment. Sweden was the first country to do so, in 1979. In the UK, it is banned in Scotland and Wales, but it is still permitted in domestic settings in England and Northern Ireland.
The report emphasizes the need for law enforcement and increased awareness campaigns to prevent physical punishment. The aim is to teach parents that hitting has a negative effect on children’s minds and hearts. It can also help them learn new ways of teaching with love and understanding. Children learn by observation. If parents want their children to behave well, they need to model that behavior themselves. The report suggests that if parents were aware of different, more effective methods of disciplining children, they would use them.