In 1979, Sweden made history by becoming the first country in the world to ban all forms of corporal punishment of children, including inside the home. At a time when spanking was widely accepted in many societies, Sweden chose a different path.
The law was never intended to criminalise ordinary parents. Instead, it sought to change attitudes by making one message clear: children deserve the same protection from violence as adults.
The government backed the legislation with nationwide awareness campaigns, parenting education and family support services, encouraging positive discipline instead of physical punishment.
Today, more than 60 countries have adopted similar bans, and Sweden is widely regarded as the nation that changed the global conversation around children’s rights. Its child welfare system also allows authorities to intervene when a child’s safety or well-being is seriously at risk.
