From playgrounds to GDP: Violence against children costs us all

A few days ago, on a bus, an older sister scolded her younger brother, saying, "I'll give you two slaps if you misbehave." She appeared to be around 10 years old, and the boy about three or four. At a swimming pool, a coach jokingly told another, "If you give him two shots, it'll be sorted," referring to a child lazily doing his exercises. On another day at the same pool, a woman told another coach, "Hit them if necessary, but don't let them show disrespect." A father once told me about his four-year-old daughter, stating that although they do not physically punish her, they "teach her" her by locking her out of the house.

- By Dileepa Manawadu

The use of power by those in authority to harm those with less power has become normalised in Sri Lanka and many other countries. The examples above demonstrate that this cycle of behaviour operates regardless of age differences.

30 April is the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children. However, it does not receive the same attention and celebration as International Children's Day. To me, this day is crucial. As we celebrate Children's Day with enthusiasm, are we not deceiving ourselves by ignoring the reality that corporal punishment—the most prevalent form of violence against children—continues?

The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) affirms children’s right to be free from violence. Sri Lanka, like most UN member states (except the USA), has ratified this convention. Corporal punishment violates children’s dignity, safety, and development, directly breaching multiple core principles of the UNCRC. Teaching children that violence is a legitimate method of conflict resolution perpetuates violence in society.

The Sri Lankan Government has committed to eliminating corporal punishment in all environments. Sri Lanka’s status as a Pathfinder country in South Asia for ending corporal punishment reflects this progressive stance.

At the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Bogotá last November, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment through three key actions:

■ Creating safe and active school environments,

■ Implementing support and response services,

■ Strengthening legal and policy frameworks.

On 7 February 2025, at the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board, a landmark statement was presented supporting the global abolition of corporal punishment. This was the first time the WHO explicitly identified corporal punishment as a major public health issue.