10/03/2025
Executive Board of the World Health Assembly presented with first ever statement on corporal punishment of children
Ending corporal punishment of children – a public health priority. It causes direct physical harm – in fact, most violence against children commonly referred to as “abuse” is corporal punishment; and it carries an inbuilt risk of escalation. Corporal punishment is also strongly associated with poorer mental health and cognitive development, atypical brain function, and poorer physical health throughout life.
When we consider the very high prevalence of corporal punishment, combined with its many negative impacts, ending corporal punishment of children can be understood as an urgent public health priority.