Prohibiting corporal punishment reinforces the principle that violence against children is unacceptable.
Nearly one in three countries has banned corporal punishment in all settings, including the home, while most other countries have partial prohibitions or have committed to full prohibition.
| Indicator | What it measures | Why it matters | Score range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Laws against corporal punishment | Whether the country has prohibited corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home | Corporal punishment normalizes violence against children and adolescents. Prohibition in all settings, including the home, is a foundational legal protection. | 0–3 |
How to interpret your country's score
4.1 Laws against corporal punishment (0–3)
A higher score means stronger legal protections and enforcement capacity are in place. A lower score signals that there are gaps which leave children and adolescents without legal protection or access to child-friendly justice.
| 0 | Corporal punishment is not fully prohibited in any setting. |
| 1 | Prohibited in some settings but not all (for example, in schools but not in the home). |
| 2 | Government has committed to full prohibition but has not enacted it. |
| 3 | Prohibited in all settings, including the home. |
Corporal punishment of children: the public health impact (opens in a new tab)
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that child corporal punishment carries multiple risks of harm and has no benefits for children, parents, or societies.
via World Health Organization (WHO)
Data explorer
From indicators to budget lines
Use this as a guide to strengthen your advocacy requests and create targeted ‘asks’ to decision-makers within the right Ministry (for example: Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, or Finance)
| Indicator | What it measures | Budget-line-to target | Template language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Laws against corporal punishment | Whether corporal punishment is prohibited in all settings including the home | Ministry of Justice / Social Welfare: legislative drafting, enforcement mechanisms, public awareness campaigns | “Allocate [amount] for drafting and implementing legislation to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, including enforcement mechanisms and public education on positive discipline.” |
How to put a number on your ask
Break your ask into building blocks a Finance Ministry would recognize. Even a rough component-based estimate signals seriousness:
| Indicator | Examples of components to estimate |
|---|---|
| 4.1–4.2 Legal reform (corporal punishment, marriage age) | Legislative drafting and parliamentary process; enforcement mechanisms; public education campaigns |
Advocacy tools
Share your story
Share your experience, research, and success stories using the Index in your work!
Share your storyData driving change
Third Richest Nation
www.bravemovement.org/campaigns/third-richest-nation
A world without childhood violence would be $7 trillion richer. This nation isn’t real. Its wealth could be. Brave Movement's survivor-led advocacy campaign at the G20 in 2025 pressured decision makers to invest in prevention, healing and justice to create stronger, happier nations.
#BeBrave G7 Scorecard 2025
www.bravemovement.org/g7
By evaluating each G7 nation’s progress on vital policy measures we're drawing global attention to the global, silent pandemic of sexual violence against children. This is a crisis that undermines the G7's commitment to building secure, prosperous, and equitable societies. Kids need bold leadership and decisive action now to be safe and thrive.
Break the record
www.togetherforgirls.org/en/press/a-record-breaking-event-now-governments-must-deliver
We broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for the most countries represented at a childhood violence summit! With 120 governments attending, this first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children was the largest organized event to address this issue on a global scale. Most importantly, as a result, we also broke the world’s record of inaction against childhood sexual violence.