Over half of Phl kids suffer violent discipline - Unicef

Over 23 million Filipino children under the age of 14—roughly more than half of the age group nationwide—are violently disciplined at home, according to a study by the United Nations Children's Fund.

- NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

UNICEF's data showed that in 2022, three in five children, or nearly 60 percent of one- to 14-year-olds in the Philippines, have experienced at least one form of "violent discipline." Of the number, 11.6 million children or more than 50 percent within the age group reported having experienced physical aggression, 9.1 million or 39 percent were subjected to forms of physical punishment while nearly 800,000 or 3.4 percent went through “severe” physical punishment.

“Even the youngest children are not spared from violent discipline,” said UNICEF, noting that children aged three to nine suffered violent discipline most, with three out of five within the age group affected.

Violent discipline is either physical violence or psychological aggression, which exposes children to harm and other adverse long-term effects on behavior and mental health, the agency noted.

Meanwhile, two of five children aged one to two also experienced similar forms of physical and psychological discipline.