AT a global event in Bogotá, Colombia, more than 100 governments made historic pledges to end childhood violence, including nine nations committing to ban corporal punishment, an issue that impacts three out of every five children in their homes.

echThe event, hosted by the governments of Colombia and Sweden in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, set the stage for a new global declaration aimed at protecting children from all forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse.

The event brought together high-level government delegations, children, young people, survivors, and civil society allies, all united in their commitment to address the widespread issue of childhood violence. Governments pledged to improve services for survivors of childhood violence, tackle bullying, and invest in critical parenting support—one of the most effective interventions for reducing the risk of violence in the home.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, highlighted the urgent need for action, saying, "Despite being highly preventable, violence remains a horrific day-to-day reality for millions of children around the world—leaving scars that span generations. Today, countries made critical pledges that, once enacted, could finally turn the tide on childhood violence. These actions—from establishing life-changing support for families to making schools safer and tackling online abuse—are fundamental to protecting children from lasting harm and ill health."

Globally, it is estimated that over half of all children—around 1 billion—experience some form of violence, including child maltreatment, corporal punishment, bullying, physical and emotional abuse, and sexual violence. Violence against children often occurs behind closed doors and remains vastly underreported. WHO estimates that fewer than half of affected children disclose the violence they experience, and less than 10 percent receive any form of help.

The consequences of such violence are devastating and far-reaching. It not only violates children’s rights but also leads to significant health and developmental challenges. In some cases, violence results in death or serious injury. Each year, around 40,000 children and adolescents die as a result of homicide, with a child or adolescent dying every 13 minutes due to violence. For others, the consequences of violence are long-lasting, contributing to anxiety, depression, risky behaviours like substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices, and poorer academic outcomes.

WHO’s research shows that violence against children is preventable. Key interventions include parenting support to help caregivers avoid violent discipline and build positive relationships, school-based programs to prevent bullying and foster social skills, and child-friendly services for those who have experienced violence. 

Laws that prohibit violence against children, as well as measures to reduce underlying risk factors like access to alcohol and firearms, are also essential in reducing childhood violence. Studies have shown that when countries implement these strategies effectively, they can reduce violence against children by 20-50 percent.

Despite the clear evidence that childhood violence is preventable, progress has been slow. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals set the first global targets for ending violence against children, but around nine in ten children still live in countries where common forms of violence, such as corporal punishment or sexual abuse, are not prohibited by law.

At the Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children, specific pledges included commitments to end physical punishment, introduce new digital safety initiatives, raise the legally permitted age of marriage, and invest in parenting education and child protection services. WHO has been actively supporting efforts to end childhood violence by providing technical guidance, promoting effective prevention strategies, conducting research, and publishing global status reports.

Some notable pledges made during the conference include commitments from eight countries—Burundi, Czechia, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Tajikistan—to pursue legislation against corporal punishment in all settings. Nigeria committed to addressing corporal punishment in schools. 

Additionally, dozens of countries vowed to invest in parenting support programs, while the United Kingdom and other partners committed to launching a Global Taskforce on ending violence in schools. Tanzania pledged to introduce Child Protection Desks in all 25,000 of its schools, and Spain committed to passing new digital safety laws to protect children online. The Solomon Islands announced plans to raise the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18, acknowledging early marriage as a significant risk factor for violence against adolescent girls.

Other countries made commitments to strengthen national policies and develop specific plans to tackle violence against children. WHO continues to support these efforts by providing technical assistance and promoting the global implementation of the INSPIRE strategies, which outline seven evidence-based actions to prevent violence against children.