Save the Children: It’ll take 60 years to eradicate corporal punishment against adolescents

Save the Children International (SCI) says it will take the world 60 years to eradicate all forms of corporal punishment against adolescents.

The organisation highlighted this in its recent report to mark the International Day of Ending Corporal Punishment commemorated annually on April 30.

SCI said only twenty countries have banned corporal punishment since the adoption of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015.

It said only 27 countries have publicly committed to reforming their laws, adding that the legislation would protect about 288 million children from violence if enacted.

SCI raised concerns over the slow progress in meeting the 2030 target, adding that only about “two countries per year enacted a ban, leaving the world far behind its ambitions”.

“Corporal punishment is the most common form of violence against children worldwide with around 4 in 5 children aged between 2 and 14 experiencing corporal punishment in their home every year,” the organisation said.

“Only 15% of children globally — an estimated 320 million children — are fully protected by law from corporal punishment, with about 66 of around 193 states banning corporal punishment in all settings.

“Just 20 countries have prohibited corporal punishment in the nine years since the SDGs were adopted, compared with 30 countries in the nine years before 2015.

“Corporal punishment takes many forms, including smacking or slapping, kicking, shaking, burning and forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions. It also includes non-physical humiliating treatment which belittles the child.

“Globally, the physical and mental punishment of children at the hands of parents, teachers and caregivers leads to the deaths of thousands of children every year with many more seriously injured.

“It also results in the diminished psychosocial well-being of countless children and has a profound impact on their healthy development.”

Steve Miller, SCI global director of child protection, said half of high-income countries are yet to implement full legal protection compared to about 70% of middle-income countries and more than 90% of low-income countries.

Miller called on world leaders to take advantage of the upcoming first ministerial conference on ending violence against children, to address the challenges.

“It’s time to accelerate progress. With the target of global prohibition by 2030, we have 6 years — not 60 — to fully protect children from violent punishment,” he added.

“Corporal punishment is a violation of children’s rights, and its widespread social acceptance normalises a level of violence throughout childhood that can lead to other forms of violence and mistreatment.

“We call on all countries to prohibit all forms of corporal punishment against children in all settings by 2030 and to listen to children in order to create change.”