Thailand has enacted a nationwide ban on corporal punishment of children, aligning itself with international human rights standards and ending years of debate over the use of physical discipline in homes and schools.
The measure, published in the Royal Gazette on March 24, makes Thailand the 68th country to outlaw violence or coercion against children for disciplinary purposes.
It brings Thai law into compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in force since 1990, which obliges states to protect minors from all forms of physical or mental violence.
The ban follows decades of widespread use and social acceptance of corporal punishment in the country—particularly in family settings, where physical discipline was not only tolerated but also prevalent.
A 2022 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics found that 54 percent of Thai children under the age of 14 had been subjected to physical or psychological punishment at home, a decrease from 75 percent in 2005, but still high enough to raise concern among child protection advocates.
UNICEF Thailand welcomed the law, calling it “a model to follow to ensure complete protection of the youngest from any form of violence or exploitation.”
The agency, however, warned that legal reform must be accompanied by cultural change, particularly in private spheres.
It urged the government to roll out “adequate educational campaigns, especially in family contexts,” where force is still widely seen as a legitimate form of discipline.
Legal experts and rights groups say enforcement will face resistance, especially from conservative segments of Thai society.
The concept of parental authority—often intertwined with national identity and moral values—remains deeply ingrained and has previously received backing from political leaders.
In recent years, efforts to soften authoritarian approaches to parenting and education have been stymied by successive military and nationalist-led governments, which have framed such changes as threats to “traditional values.”
