MADRID, 21 (EUROPA PRESS)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed in a report that some 1.2 billion children between the ages of 0 and 18 experience physical punishment in their homes each year, causing "significant harm" to children's health and development, although this practice varies "considerably" between countries.
Among children aged 2 to 14, rates of corporal punishment reported by parents and caregivers in the past month have ranged from 30 percent in Kazakhstan and 32 percent in Ukraine, to 63 percent in Serbia, 64 percent in Sierra Leone, and 77 percent in Togo.
"There is overwhelming scientific evidence that corporal punishment carries multiple risks for children's health (…) It offers no benefits for children's behavior, development, or well-being, nor for parents or society," said Etienne Krug, director of the WHO's Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention.
This is why she has called for an "end to this harmful practice" and thus ensure the comprehensive development of children in their homes and schools.
According to data from 58 countries, 17 percent of children who experienced this type of punishment last month did so in its "most severe" forms, such as hitting the head, face, or ears, or severe and repeated hitting.
Corporal punishment is "equally widespread" in schools in Africa and Central America, where 70 percent of children are subjected to this practice during their school years, compared to 25 percent in the Western Pacific region.
The document also states that children at greater risk of experiencing corporal punishment are those with disabilities, those whose parents have experienced the same punishment, and those whose parents suffer from substance abuse, depression, or other mental health issues.
Other social factors such as poverty, racism, and discrimination further increase the risk of corporal punishment against children, which has profound and far-reaching consequences for their health.
On a physical level, beyond the immediate injuries, these punishments ultimately trigger harmful biological responses, such as increased reactivity of stress hormones or changes in brain structure and function, which can impair healthy development.
In fact, an analysis of 49 low- and middle-income countries shows that children exposed to corporal punishment are 24 percent less likely to achieve normal development, compared to their peers who are not subjected to these practices.
Children's mental health is also "equally severely" affected, as they face a greater risk of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and emotional instability, effects that often persist into adulthood, leading to higher rates of substance abuse and even an increased likelihood of suicide, suicide attempts, or completed suicide.
On a social level, these types of punishments also have consequences, as children may be more likely to develop aggressive behavior, have academic difficulties, and, once they reach adulthood, engage in violent, antisocial, or delinquent behavior.
Similarly, they foster greater social acceptance of violence, which reinforces "harmful cycles" across generations.
Although many countries have already banned corporal punishment, its continued use and the persistent belief in its necessity demonstrate that legislation alone is not enough. For this reason, the WHO has emphasized the importance of supporting legal measures with public awareness campaigns and direct support for parents, caregivers, and teachers to promote positive, non-violent forms of discipline.
