Global table – last updated March 2013

KEY:

Corporal punishment prohibited = Corporal punishment prohibited

Corporal punishment permitted = Corporal punishment permitted

Corporal punishment status unknown = Corporal punishment status unknown

Click for additional information = Click for additional information


Click for state report = Click for DETAILED state report

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Please note:

The following table analyses the legality of corporal punishment in the home, schools and the penal system in each state. A state is counted as prohibiting corporal punishment in a setting when: 

  1. prohibition is enacted in legislation. Prohibition as a matter of policy or guidance fails to realise children’s right to equal protection from assault in law, and is frequently undermined by legal provisions confirming a right of parents and other adults to administer "reasonable correction" or similar

  2. the prohibition applies to all aspects of the setting. In schools, prohibition should apply in all education settings, including public and private. In the penal system, corporal punishment should be prohibited both as a sentence for crime and as a disciplinary measure in all institutions accommodating children in conflict with the law.

The detailed country reports, accessed by clicking on the icon in the first column, provide further information on applicable legislation and on the reforms necessary to achieve prohibition, as well as summaries of relevant prevalence research and recommendations by human rights treaty monitoring bodies.

Download more detailed global and regional analyses of the legality of corporal punishment in the home, schools, the penal system and alternative care settings, and progress towards universal prohibition.

GLOBAL TABLE: M-P

Legality of corporal punishment worldwide - last updated March 2013

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COUNTRY

Prohibited in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Macau

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Madagascar

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Malawi

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Malaysia

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Maldives

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Mali

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Malta

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Marshall Islands

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Martinique
(Overseas Department of France)

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Mauritania

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Mauritius

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Mexico

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Micronesia, Federated States of

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Monaco

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Mongolia

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Montenegro

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Montserrat
(British Overseas Territory)

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Morocco

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Mozambique

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Myanmar

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Namibia

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Nauru

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Nepal

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

New Caledonia
(France overseas territory)

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Nicaragua

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Niger

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Nigeria

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Niue

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Penal system - insufficient information

State report

Northern Mariana Islands
(commonwealth in political union with US)

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Prohibited in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Oman

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Pakistan

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Palau

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Palestine

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Panama

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Papua New Guinea

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Paraguay

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Permitted in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Peru

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Philippines

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Pitcairn Islands
(British Overseas Territory)

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Poland

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Puerto Rico
(Self-governing Commonwealth of the US)

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

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