Corporal punishment is the most common and widely accepted form of violence against children, with a very large number regularly experiencing it in various settings of their lives, including the penal systems.

As of May 2024, 66 states worldwide have banned corporal punishment of children in all settings of their lives, including in the home. Moreover, at least 27 other states have expressed a commitment to enacting full prohibition.

Despite this progress, many children around the world have been left behind. This briefing highlights the human rights imperative to prohibit – and eliminate - all violent punishment of children in the child justice systems.

It documents that 30 states have not fully prohibited the sentencing of children to corporal punishment by their courts, and 52 states have not prohibited violent punishment of children in penal institutions and summarises progress so far towards universal abolition of corporal punishment in each state. Aiming to promote national action for prohibition, this briefing emphasises the need to undertake appropriate law reform – and effective implementation of law reform - to fulfil children’s right to protection from all corporal punishment in all settings.