Last week, the 156^th session of the WHA Executive Board was presented with a first-ever statement in support of ending corporal punishment of children. This marks the first time in over 75 years of World Health Organization business that corporal punishment has had visibility, as a major public health concern. The shared statement was made by the Government of Kenya, and supported by the Government’s of Armenia, Benin, Romania, Sierra Leone, Costa Rica, Finland, Thailand, Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Moldova.

The statement made a clear and compelling case for ending corporal punishment:

‘Corporal punishment remains the most prevalent and socially accepted form of violence against children, encompassing physical acts such as hitting with hands or objects, kicking, shaking, and more.

Countries that have enacted comprehensive prohibitions against corporal punishment are granting children the same protective legal framework against assault that adults enjoy.

The public health rationale is compelling: corporal punishment inflicts direct physical harm, resulting in the deaths of thousands and injuries to millions. It is closely linked to adverse mental health outcomes during childhood and beyond, heightening risks of self-harm, suicide, and addiction in adulthood. Furthermore, corporal punishment correlates with stunted cognitive development, decreased educational attainment, and increased school dropout rates. Contrary to fostering desirable behaviour, it escalates aggression, antisocial conduct, and the perpetuation of violence. In contrast, social interventions, such as parenting programs, effectively reduce reliance on physical punishment in homes worldwide.

Over five decades of rigorous research reveal that corporal punishment results in a host of detrimental effects without yielding any benefits. The burdens imposed on health, child protection, and criminal justice systems, along with squandered educational investments and loss of human capital, are staggering.

In making the statement, the Government of Kenya aimed to start the process of elevating the profile of corporal punishment as a global public health concern, demonstrating broad and diverse member state support for urgent collective action. This builds from the announcement made by the governments of Kenya, Benin, Uganda and Nigeria to pursue an historic WHA resolution on the issue, at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children that took place in Bogota, Colombia in November 2024.

‘Recognizing the prevalence, ramifications, and costs associated with corporal punishment, we advocate for an urgent public health strategy aimed at prevention. This statement serves as our commitment to elevate awareness of the public health imperative for abolishing corporal punishment, inviting our fellow member state champions for children to unite in this critical WHA initiative.

Following this statement, the Government of Kenya, in partnership with fellow champion member states, will explore shared action across major global health milestones, including the World Health Assembly in May,  where it is expected that a new WHO technical report on corporal punishment will be launched.

• Read the full statement here.
• Watch the recording here: https://www.who.int/about/governance/executive-board/156th-session (Select the recording for the 7 February 2025. The statement can be found at 2 hours and 14 minutes).
• Find out more about the health implications of corporal punishment.
• See the WHO factsheet on corporal punishment.