The recent tragic case of a three-year-old girl losing her life due to alleged abuse by her father is a stark and heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need to address violence against children in all its forms. Save the Children Hong Kong, an organisation that promotes child rights and child protection, is deeply saddened and outraged by this incident. We call for immediate action to protect the most vulnerable members of our society – children. A total ban on corporal punishment and efforts to strengthen public education on child protection at the family, institutional and community levels are needed.
Corporal punishment is the most common form of violence against children worldwide, leading to the injury and death of thousands of children each year. Around the world, 3 in 5 children aged 2-14 regularly suffer physical punishment by their parents or other caregivers. Corporal punishment is still a common practice in Hong Kong. Nearly 80% of the children, who responded to our survey on corporal punishment of children, have witnessed or experienced some form of corporal punishment. Children also told us that they were used to corporal punishment and believed that it was very common for Hong Kong parents to use corporal punishment to discipline their children.
As of 2024, 67 countries including China and several countries in Asia have enacted laws to ban corporal punishment in all settings, including the home. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states in Article 19 that countries are required to protect children from all forms of violence, including physical punishment. In Hong Kong, corporal punishment remains lawful at home and in alternative care settings. This legal gap perpetuates the normalisation of violence in child-disciplining practices, undermines efforts to create a safe and nurturing environment for children, and contributes to lasting psychological harm.
Save the Children Hong Kong strongly condemns any form of violence against children, including corporal punishment in all settings. Research consistently shows that corporal punishment, even when intended as mild discipline, carries an inherent risk of escalation to severe abuse, with little to no impact in changing children’s behaviours in the long term. The harm brought by corporal punishment is not a “side effect” – it is the inevitable consequence of normalising violence against children. There is no justification for harming children, – whether as part of cultural tradition nor any “good intentions”– as it violates their inherent dignity and rights, undermines trust in their caregivers, and perpetuates a cycle of harm.
We must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violence against children. This includes enacting comprehensive legislation to ban corporal punishment in all settings, promoting positive and non-violent parenting practices, and raising awareness about the harmful effects of corporal punishment. It is the collective responsibility of governments, communities, and families to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, loving, and supportive environment.