The International Day to #EndCorporalPunishment on 30 April is an important, global moment to advocate for protecting children from violent punishment – in all settings. Children deserve and need non-violent childhoods now!
Corporal punishment remains the most common form of violence against children, with vast numbers frequently experiencing it in multiple settings of their lives. It is a violation of children’s rights, and decades of research connects corporal punishment with multiple harmful impacts for the child and society, including significant economic costs. And yet, 86% of the world’s 2.2 billion children are not legally protected from the practice.
However, progress is possible and accelerating! 40 years ago, only one state had passed a law banning corporal punishment, but today 65 have taken this fundamental step in protecting children and upholding their rights. And there is evidence that when law reform is well implemented it is followed by an ongoing reduction in the acceptance and use of corporal punishment and other forms of violence across society.
Governments have committed to ending violence against children by 2030, but corporal punishment continues to blight billions of children’s lives worldwide. We know what works and we have seven years to #EndCorporalPunishment. Let’s call for urgent action to end corporal punishment of children.
Get involved with our advocacy and communications pack (Français/Español)
Our updated advocacy and communications pack can help you get involved with the International Day to #EndCorporalPunishment. The pack includes key information and messages, suggested actions, social media materials and more, and is available in English, French and Spanish. You can access the packs here and spread the word with these messages on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Ending corporal punishment in schools to transform education for all children: New report and international high-level webinar
In May we will publish our new landmark report on school corporal punishment in partnership with Safe to Learn and the Coalition for Good Schools. The report will explore how violent punishment in school remains lawful and common in many places, harming huge numbers of children and preventing them from accessing the opportunities of education. It calls for urgent focus on eliminating corporal punishment and all forms of violence in and around schools.
Join us for the launch of the report!
On 4 May we will hold a high-level international webinar to launch the report, explore the problem of school corporal punishment, and showcase solutions from around the world. We will be honoured to be joined by children, politicians, Ministers, and policy and practice experts from around the world.
Register to attend the webinar here.
Download the webinar programme.
Thank you for your partnership. Together we will #EndCorporalPunishment!
With best wishes,
Bess Herbert, Advocacy Specialist – End Corporal Punishment
Sonia Vohito, Legal Policy Specialist – End Corporal Punishment
New resources:
‘Stories of Change: The Love Does Not Hurt Cultural Campaign in Southeast Asia’ reports on an inspiring 3-year project supporting parents to end corporal punishment in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines.
New blog:Mobilising Children’s Agency for Eliminating Corporal Punishment byPrerit Rana, Chief Executive of Agrasar, India
End Corporal Punishment is a critical initiative of the End Violence Partnership.
We may contact you occasionally with significant news and events connected to corporal punishment. If you would like to receive more regular updates about work to end all violence against children you can sign up to the monthly End Violence newsletter. If you would like to be removed from our mailing list please let us know here. We will never share your details with third parties.