New Report Warns Corporal Punishment is Widespread and Damaging to Children’s Health

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the continued use of corporal punishment worldwide, warning that the practice inflicts serious harm on children’s health, development, and future well-being.

According to the report, Corporal Punishment of Children: The Public Health Impact, an estimated 1.2 billion children under the age of 18 are subjected to physical punishment at home each year. Of these, nearly one in five endure severe forms, including being hit on the head, face, or ears, or being struck hard and repeatedly.

The prevalence of corporal punishment varies sharply between countries. Among children aged 2–14, self-reported rates of being punished in the past month ranged from 30 percent in Kazakhstan and 32 percent in Ukraine to 63 percent in Serbia, 64 percent in Sierra Leone, and 77 percent in Togo. In schools, the trend is equally alarming: around 70 percent of children across Africa and Central America experience corporal punishment during their school years, compared to about 25 percent in the Western Pacific region.

“There is now overwhelming scientific evidence that corporal punishment carries multiple risks to the health of children,” said Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department for Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “It offers no benefits to children’s behaviour, development or well-being – and no benefit to parents or societies either. It’s time to end this harmful practice to ensure children thrive at home and at school.”

The report identifies children with disabilities, those whose parents were punished during childhood, and those living with parents facing substance abuse or mental health struggles as particularly vulnerable. Broader social factors such as poverty, racism, and discrimination further increase the risks.

The health effects extend well beyond immediate injuries. Research shows that corporal punishment can disrupt brain development, alter stress hormone responses, and hinder children’s emotional growth. Data from 49 low- and middle-income countries reveal that children exposed to corporal punishment are, on average, 24 percent less likely to be developmentally on track compared to their peers.

The psychological toll is equally severe. Children subjected to corporal punishment are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem – effects that often persist into adulthood, contributing to higher risks of substance abuse, mental health disorders, and even suicide.

Beyond individual harm, the report highlights the societal costs. Children exposed to corporal punishment are more prone to aggressive behaviour, academic struggles, and antisocial conduct later in life. The practice, WHO warns, also entrenches social acceptance of violence, perpetuating cycles of harm across generations.

While more countries have introduced bans on corporal punishment, enforcement remains uneven, and cultural acceptance of the practice persists. The WHO stresses that legal reforms must be backed by awareness campaigns and support for parents, caregivers, and teachers to encourage non-violent forms of discipline.

“Ending corporal punishment is not only about protecting children’s rights – it’s about building healthier, more peaceful societies,” the report concludes.