News of Bahrain
World12 June 20242 min read

Nearly 400mln young kids violently disciplined at home: UNICEF

AFP | United Nations, United States The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com Nearly 400 million children under the age of five -- roughly 60 percent in that age group globally -- experience violent physical or psychological discipline at home, from spanking to insults, the

Editorial Team Legacy

Published 12 June 2024, 8:00 · Updated 22:15

Link copied
Nearly 400mln young kids violently disciplined at home: UNICEF

AFP | United Nations, United States

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Nearly 400 million children under the age of five -- roughly 60 percent in that age group globally -- experience violent physical or psychological discipline at home, from spanking to insults, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said late Monday.

The new UNICEF estimates reflect data from 100 countries collected from 2010 to 2023, and covers both “physical punishment” and “psychological aggression.”

For UNICEF, psychological abuse can include screaming at a child, or calling them “stupid” or “lazy,” while physical abuse includes shaking, hitting or spanking a child, or any action intended to cause physical pain or discomfort, without injury.

Of those nearly 400 million children, about 330 million of them experience physical punishment, the UN agency said.

And even if more and more countries are banning corporal punishment of children, nearly 500 million children under the age of five are not legally protected against such practices.

Join the conversation

Sign in to leave a comment. Every comment is reviewed before it goes live.

No comments yet. Start the conversation.