More than 100 countries are committed to end childhood violence, with nine pledging to ban corporal punishment at a summit in Bogotá, Colombia, on Thursday.
The event, hosted by Colombia, Sweden, WHO, UNICEF, and the UN, marks a historic step toward safeguarding children from abuse, exploitation, and violence.
This move comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that more than 1 billion children worldwide, over half of the global child population—experience some form of violence every year.
“Despite being highly preventable, violence remains a horrific day to day reality for millions of children around the world – leaving scars that span generations,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Today countries made critical pledges that, once enacted, could finally turn the tide on childhood violence.”
In a landmark moment, nine countries; Burundi, Czechia, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Tajikistan, and Nigeria committed to prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings, with three in five children globally subjected to physical punishment in their homes.
Other countries focused on improving services for violence survivors and tackling bullying.
The United Kingdom, along with several partners, pledged to launch a Global Taskforce to eliminate violence in schools, where between 25% and 50% of children experience bullying.
While global commitments are strong, the WHO highlights alarming figures stating that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys suffer sexual violence, while 40,000 children die annually due to violence, a preventable loss.
Violence’s long-term impact includes anxiety, depression, and poor academic performance.
Experts stress that comprehensive strategies, including parenting support and stronger legal protections, could reduce violence by up to 50%.
However, progress remains slow, with 9 in 10 children still living in countries where corporal punishment is legal, according to WHO.
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