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Corporal punishment (e.g., spanking) is allowed in Canada according to . Some Canadians are not aware of this and are surprised to learn that such a law exists, whereas others want to hold onto this archaic act.

corporal punishment, have been underway for half a century. To date, . Unfortunately, Canada is not one of them.

Currently, , which would ban corporal punishment in Canada, is being debated in the Senate. Now is the time to provide evidence to Canadians to inform the debate.

Why corporal punishment should never be used

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child defines corporal punishment (also referred to as physical punishment) . Corporal punishment can include hitting, spanking, smacking, slapping, kicking, shaking, scratching, pinching or biting, among other physical acts.

Canadian estimates within the last 10 years suggest that between and of families use spanking to discipline children.

Evidence collected over the past two decades and published in hundreds of peer-reviewed studies, has demonstrated that corporal punishment is harmful to children and has .

This shown for injury, poor parent-child relationships and poor outcomes in children and youth. These include aggression, antisocial behavior, slower cognitive development, emotional disorders including anxiety and depression, physical health problems, substance use, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and violence in intimate relationships later in life.

Because of serious concerns about the significant negative outcomes associated with corporal punishment, the American Academy of Pediatrics clearly recommending against any physical punishment, including spanking, hitting and slapping. A similar statement was : "At no time should parents use physical punishment—spanking, slapping, hitting—or behavior that shames children."

Barriers to repealing Section 43

Extensive evidence highlights the harms of spanking, and no studies have found any benefits of spanking for the child. Sixty-five other countries or states worldwide have already instituted spanking bans. The question remains: Why hasn't Canada already repealed Section 43 of the Criminal Code?

A common argument for spanking is, "I was spanked, and I turned out OK." While that may be true for some people, it often isn't the case.

Many children, youth and adults experience numerous poor outcomes across their lifespan related to being spanked in childhood. Â鶹ÒùÔºical punishment in childhood is associated with a of experiencing physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect and/or exposure to intimate partner violence.

It's clear that spanking is a parenting strategy that comes with significant and unnecessary risks.

A common misconception related to the repeal of Section 43 is that laws banning corporal punishment will mean criminalization and incarceration of parents. This is simply not true and not the purpose of a ban.

In 1979, ; the aim was to educate the public—not prosecute parents. .

The overall purpose of such bans is to reduce the use of corporal punishment, increase early identification of at-risk children and youth and to support families through preventive interventions.

Evidence of changing public attitudes

Several strategies have shown promise in reducing support for corporal punishment, as well as in reducing the intention to use, and the actual act of using it. individual and group-based programs to develop positive parenting skills, home visitation programs and media-based interventions.

Some studies have also demonstrated that about harms related to corporal punishment and can help parents to decide to stop spanking.

Importantly, research from several countries indicates that . Bans alone may not be sufficient; they should be enacted in combination with .

It is essential that Canada complies with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that prohibits spanking. It is our duty to protect our children from unnecessary harm and give them the best chance to live happy and healthy lives that are free from violence. This starts with the Repeal of Section 43.

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