Thailand bans all corporal punishment of children
Children in Thailand are now legally protected from corporal punishment.
Thailand becomes the 68th country to prohibit all corporal punishment of children, only the second ASEAN state to do so.
The reform applies to homes, schools, and all care settings
This achievement comes ahead of 30 April: International Day to End Corporal Punishment
132 countries have legislated to prohibit corporal punishment in educational settings, but 60 states have no such protection, exposing up to 780 million children to legalised violence in schools
IPNEd urges parliamentarians to follow Thailand's lead and prohibit corporal punishment, especially in educational settings.
The Inter-Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd) warmly welcomes Thailand's decision in late March to fully prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings. This landmark reform makes Thailand the 68th state worldwide and only the second in ASEAN to enact such comprehensive legal protection for children.
The prohibition was introduced through an amendment by the Thai parliament to Thailand's Civil Code, marking a critical step forward in aligning national law with the country’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The change demonstrates the importance of sustained advocacy from national and international partners, including UNICEF Thailand and Save the Children, as well as collaboration with parliamentarians, ministries and civil society.
The reform will help protect children from all forms of physical and humiliating punishment, not only at home but also in schools and alternative care settings. It sends a powerful message that violence is not a legitimate form of discipline and that children's dignity and rights must be upheld everywhere.
This milestone comes just weeks before International Day to End Corporal Punishment on April 30.
“Taking inspiration from Thailand’s example I urge legislators around the world to think about how they can mark the international day and help accelerate the end of corporal punishment of children, especially in educational settings” said IPNEd executive director Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly.
“Around 60 states do not have laws in place that prohibit corporal punishment in schools which exposes an estimated 780 million children to legalised violence in schools.
“School should be a place of hope and opportunity, where children are safe to learn and develop the skills and experiences they need to thrive. Corporal punishment is incompatible with that vision.”
“Law reform has a central role to play in transforming school culture to protect children from corporal punishment and its negative effects and this unique responsibility to draft , pass and oversee the implementation of laws falls uniquely to members of parliament,” said Mehnaz Akber Aziz a former member of Pakistan’s national parliament who introduced legislation to ban corporal punishment.
“In the lead up to the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children, I urge legislators in the 6o plus states where corporal punishment at school remains lawful to draft, pass and implement legislation to prohibit the practice.”
Learn more on our dedicated corporal punishment page.
