Eight countries have recently pledged to ban corporal punishment against children under the age of 18, marking a "fundamental" shift for kids.
The pledges were made as part of commitments to tackle violence against children ahead of the "1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children" event to be held by the United Nations in Bogotá, Columbia.
Of the eight countries, six pledged a total ban on corporal punishment, including Panama, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, Burundi, Sri Lanka, and the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, both Gambia and Nigeria pledged to ban corporal punishment in schools.
"Today countries made critical pledges that, once enacted, could finally turn the tide on childhood violence," Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said in a statement. "These actions will be fundamental to protecting children from lasting harm and ill health."
So far, 67 of the world's 193 countries have implemented a total ban on corporal punishment, according to EndCorporalPunishment.org. Sweden was the first country to impose the ban in 1979. In the United States, corporal punishment is only prohibited in some settings.
How Does Corporal Punishment Affect Children?
Corporal punishment refers to any type of physical or non-physical force used to cause pain or discomfort. This type of violence against children has been associated with increased aggression, antisocial behavior, and mental health problems in kids. It has also been linked to causing increased rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health issues in children.
Furthermore, studies have also linked corporal punishment to slower cognitive development and lower academic performance in children.
Corporal punishment can be fatal. In Nigeria, for example, a student died after he was flogged by his teacher. In England, a homeschooled student was found dead in her family home with burn and bite marks.
Other Pledges to End Violence Against Children
In addition to banning corporal punishment, the UK has pledged to launch a Global Taskforce to oversee ending violence in and through schools. The Solomon Islands also pledged to raise the age of marriage from 15 to 18.
