More than 100 governments made historic commitments today to eliminate childhood violence, with nine countries pledging to ban corporal punishment, which affects 3 out of every 5 children regularly at home. These commitments were announced at a major event in Bogotá, Colombia, where global leaders are discussing a new declaration aimed at protecting children from all forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse.
The event, hosted by the governments of Colombia and Sweden, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, saw several nations promise to improve support services for survivors of childhood violence, address bullying, and invest in parenting support—an effective way to reduce violence risks in the home.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “Despite being preventable, violence remains a daily reality for millions of children, leaving scars that last generations. Today’s pledges, once put into action, can change the future by providing critical family support, making schools safer, and tackling online abuse.”
Globally, more than 1 billion children—over half of the world’s children—experience some form of violence, including corporal punishment, bullying, physical or emotional abuse, and sexual violence. This violence is often hidden, taking place behind closed doors, and is rarely reported. WHO estimates that less than half of children affected by violence seek help, and fewer than 10% receive any assistance.
The impact of violence against children is severe, not only violating their rights but also causing long-term health issues. Some children suffer death or serious injury, with a child or adolescent dying from homicide every 13 minutes—around 40,000 preventable deaths each year. For others, violence leads to anxiety, depression, risky behaviors like substance abuse, and lower academic performance.
Research has shown that violence against children is preventable, with the health sector playing a critical role. Effective solutions include providing parenting support to prevent violent discipline, implementing school-based programs to reduce bullying, offering child-friendly social and health services, enforcing laws against violence, and ensuring safer online environments. Countries that effectively apply these strategies can reduce violence by 20-50%.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child set the first global targets to end violence against children, which were included in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. However, progress has been slow, and in many countries, common forms of violence such as corporal punishment and sexual abuse are still not legally prohibited. Currently, around 9 in 10 children live in countries where such violence is not banned by law.
The first-ever Ministerial Conference on Violence against Children is being attended by over 1,000 people, including government leaders, children, young people, and survivors. Key pledges include commitments to ban corporal punishment, introduce digital safety measures, raise the legal age for marriage, and invest in parenting education and child protection.
Key statistics:
Over half of children aged 2-17—more than 1 billion—experience some form of violence each year.
Around 3 in 5 children are physically punished in their homes.
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience sexual violence.
Between 25% and 50% of children are estimated to be bullied.
For adolescent males, violence, often involving firearms, is the leading cause of death.
Notable pledges:
Eight countries—Burundi, Czechia, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Tajikistan—committed to banning corporal punishment in all settings, with Nigeria pledging to address it in schools.
Numerous countries promised to invest in parenting support programs.
The United Kingdom and other partners pledged to launch a Global Taskforce to end violence in schools.
Tanzania committed to introducing Child Protection Desks in all of its 25,000 schools.
Spain promised to pursue new digital laws to promote online safety.
Solomon Islands pledged to raise the minimum marriage age from 15 to 18, aiming to reduce violence against adolescent girls.
Many countries committed to strengthening national policies and creating specific plans to tackle childhood violence.
These commitments mark a significant step forward in protecting children and ensuring their rights are upheld globally.
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