The evidence that corporal punishment is harmful to children, adults and societies is overwhelming. The Global Initiative’s newly updated review of research on the impact of and associations with corporal punishment surveys this evidence.

The updated review covers the evidence from a major recent analysis of five decades of research on the issue, and includes more than 250 studies which show links between corporal punishment and a wide range of negative outcomes, including direct physical harm, negative impacts on children’s and adults’ physical and mental health, increased aggression, violence and antisocial behaviour, damaged education and damanged family relationships.

Intended for use by advocates for prohibition, the review illuminates how corporal punishment violates not just children’s right to freedom from all violence, but also their rights to health, development and education.

Download the full review (35 pages) (Word/pdf) or a shorter summary (10 pages) (Word/pdf).