30 April we mark the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children. To mark the occasion, the National Network for Children launched the “Heroes Don’t Hit, Heroes Love” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the issue and encourage parents to be real heroes for their children. The initiative not only highlights the importance of non-violent parenting but also calls for a change in societal attitudes about discipline and parenting methods.
We thank Stoyan Koprivlensky, the best Bulgarian kickboxer, for standing by us in this important mission. His support as the face and ambassador of the campaign shows that true strength is in love, not in violence. Through the message “Heroes don’t hit, heroes love“, we are making a plea for an end to the physical punishment of children. Parents, teachers, public figures – all of us adults are heroes in the children’s eyes. Let us show that fear, aggression, and violence have no place in their world. When we educate with love, respect, and patience, we are not just teaching children good behavior – we give them the security to grow up confident, loved, and free. Together we can build a society where every child feels safe and valued.
Support our cause at nmd.bg/en/donate/. Your donation makes a difference in building a safe and loving environment for all children. Donate now and be part of the change!
We would also like to thank the team at SubZero Arena for their hospitality and for opening their doors to our message and the video shoot.
Unfortunately, corporal punishment remains widespread in the modern world, despite knowing how harmful it can be. Since 2015, the world has committed to ending violence against children through the UN Global Goals (Goal 16.2), which call for an end to all forms of violence against children by 2030. But the statistics are alarming. Only 14% of children globally are fully protected by law against corporal punishment, and for over 1.3 billion children worldwide, corporal punishment is the most common form of abuse. These figures show how great the need is for a change in societal attitudes.
Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment are not a way of education, but a way of instilling fear. Every parent wants the best for their child, but not everyone knows how to achieve this. Many parents, without wanting to, project onto their children’s patterns of upbringing that they experienced in childhood. Very often these include strictness, physical punishment, and excessive demands. Although these actions are taken to teach the child discipline, they lead to serious negative effects on the child’s emotional and mental health, such as increased aggression, antisocial behavior, and self-esteem problems. Also, children who have been subjected to physical punishment may develop cognitive development problems, lower educational achievement, and a higher propensity for violence in adulthood.
Ending corporal punishment is not only an educational issue but also a human rights issue. Children, as the youngest and most vulnerable members of society, deserve to be protected in the same way as adults. Corporal punishment is a gross violation of children’s right to be protected from violence and to live in an environment of trust, love, and respect.
It is important to understand that education should not involve violence. Parenting with love, patience, and respect for a child’s feelings builds true strong, and confident individuals. When parents demonstrate appropriate behavior, children can learn the patterns of relationships that are built on understanding and caring. Rather than using physical punishment, we should set clear and reasonable boundaries, focusing on developing children’s responsibility and independence.
On our website endviolence.bg, you will find many useful resources on the topic of ‘spanking’ aimed at professionals, parents, children, and young people. See also the myths we debunk in this article on the past “What do we do instead of hitting?” campaign on the International Day against Corporal Punishment of Children.
