Global table – last updated May 2011

KEY:

Corporal punishment prohibited = Corporal punishment prohibited

Corporal punishment permitted = Corporal punishment permitted

Corporal punishment status unknown = Corporal punishment status unknown

Click for additional information = Click for additional information


Click for state report = Click for DETAILED state report

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Please note:

The following table analyses the legality of corporal punishment in the home, schools and the penal system in each state. A state is counted as prohibiting corporal punishment in a setting when: 

  1. prohibition is enacted in legislation. Prohibition as a matter of policy or guidance fails to realise children’s right to equal protection from assault in law, and is frequently undermined by legal provisions confirming a right of parents and other adults to administer "reasonable correction" or similar

  2. the prohibition applies to all aspects of the setting. In schools, prohibition should apply in all education settings, including public and private. In the penal system, corporal punishment should be prohibited both as a sentence for crime and as a disciplinary measure in all institutions accommodating children in conflict with the law.

The detailed country reports, accessed by clicking on the icon in the first column, provide further information on applicable legislation and on the reforms necessary to achieve prohibition, as well as summaries of relevant prevalence research and recommendations by human rights treaty monitoring bodies.

Download more detailed global and regional analyses of the legality of corporal punishment in the home, schools, the penal system and alternative care settings, and progress towards universal prohibition.

GLOBAL TABLE: I-L

Legality of corporal punishment worldwide - last updated May 2011

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A-D| E-H | I | J | K | L | M-P | Q-T | U-Z

 

COUNTRY

Prohibited in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

India

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Indonesia

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Iraq

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Ireland

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Isle of Man
(British Crown Dependency)

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Italy

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Jamaica

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Japan

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Jersey
(British Crown Dependency)

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Jordan

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Kazakhstan

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Kenya

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Kiribati

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Kuwait

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal system

State report

Kyrgyzstan

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Lebanon

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system Click for additional information

State report

Lesotho

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools Click for additional information

Permitted in penal systemClick for additional information

State report

Liberia

Permitted in the home

Permitted in schools

Corporal punishment status unknown Click for additional information

State report

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Permitted in the home

Prohibited in schools

Permitted in penal system

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Lithuania

Permitted in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools Click for additional information

Prohibited in penal system

State report

Prohibited in the home Click for additional information

Prohibited in schools

Prohibited in penal system

A-D| E-H | I | J | K | L | M-P | Q-T | U-Z

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