In Georgia, half of the population considers violence against children – and violent discipline – an acceptable social norm. In September, however, Georgia became the newest country to ban corporal punishment, a prohibition that will affect children throughout the country once fully implemented on 1 June 2020.

Georgia joins 57 other countries across the world who have prohibited corporal punishment against children, among many other territories. Prior to this reform, corporal punishment was still permitted in certain forms in the home, alternative care and day care settings. This decision builds on years of support for Georgia’s children, including the country becoming a pathfinder in May of 2018. The same year, the government established an inter-agency commission to implement the Convention of the Rights of the Child – the world’s most widely ratified treaty – and to coordinate among various levels of government, different regions, agencies and other partners.

Learn more about Georgia’s prohibition of corporal punishment on the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children’s website, an End Violence partner that works with governments and non-government actors to prohibit and eliminate all forms of corporal punishment against children.