Geneva: Over half of all children under-18 worldwide continue to experience corporal punishment on an annual basis, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Corporal punishment most frequently involves hitting children but can include any punishments inflicted by parents, caregivers, or teachers intended to cause discomfort, occurring both at home and in public settings like classrooms.
According to Philippines News Agency, the report highlights the wide-ranging effects of corporal punishment, including increased risk of anxiety and depression, and reduced cognitive and socio-emotional development. Etienne Krug, director of WHO's department of health determinants, emphasized that corporal punishment offers no benefits to the behavior, development, or well-being of children, nor to parents or societies.
Over the past decades, numerous studies have failed to find positive impacts of corporal punishment on children or their behavior. Conversely, these studies have documented the long-term negative health impacts on individuals and societies. Krug noted the overwhelming scientific evidence of the risks corporal punishment poses to children's health.
A study across 49 low and middle-income countries found a 24 percent decrease in developmental progress among children subjected to corporal punishment compared to their peers. The report also links this form of punishment to heightened hormonal stress levels in children, potentially altering brain structure and function, with lifelong impacts.
From a societal perspective, children who experience physical punishment are more likely to perpetuate this behavior with their offspring, creating a cycle of violence across generations. Adults who were punished corporally as children show higher tendencies toward violent and aggressive behaviors. The report stresses that corporal punishment fuels broader societal acceptance of violence.
Regional variations in corporal punishment prevalence exist, with 41 percent of children in Europe and Central Asia experiencing it at home, compared to 75 percent in the Middle East and North Africa. In schools, 25 percent of children in the Western Pacific face corporal punishment, compared to over 70 percent in Africa and Central America. Children with disabilities and those from poorer, economically, or racially discriminated communities face heightened risks of corporal punishment.
The report asserts that banning corporal punishment is necessary but insufficient on its own. Currently, 67 countries have universal bans in place, but enforcement and educational campaigns are crucial to reducing its practice. The report suggests that awareness campaigns are essential to accompany legal prohibitions to reduce corporal punishment rates.
Studies indicate that parents would adopt alternative, more effective disciplinary methods if they were aware of them. Krug emphasized the need to end this harmful practice to ensure children thrive at home and in school.
