UNICEF launches a campaign to spotlight the lifelong benefits of positive discipline for children, and to prevent violence at home, school, and online

BEIJING, 12 December 2022 – A UNICEF campaign was launched today inviting all parents and teachers - the adults that are closest to children - to ‘light every moment of childhood’, and reduce acceptance of violence against children at home, at school, and online. No violence against children is justifiable, all violence against children is preventable.

Globally, children experience violence in many places. At home, many children experience violent discipline in the form of physical punishment and psychological aggression. At school, some children suffer from or perpetrate bullying, among other forms of violence. As children grow up in a digital world, the Internet offers tremendous potential for children to learn and communicate, but it also brings risks including cyberbullying, exposure to violent content, grooming, sexting and privacy breaches.

Central to the campaign is a message on positive parenting and disciplining, which develops a relationship of respect, trust, empathy, and communication between a caregiver or a teacher and a child. It gives parents the foundation for bringing up children and supporting them to navigate challenges they face at home, school and online. The campaign also provides support to schools and teachers to build a safe and positive learning and growing environment. In all these efforts, parents and teachers should not be left alone. Authorities need to provide guidance, parenting programmes, and resources to schools.

A series of materials designed to support parents and teachers provides evidence-based tips for dealing with difficult situations with more information available on UNICEF’s website.  A social experiment video capturing reactions to an immersive art exhibition takes participants on a journey designed to explore how we can ensure that children’s childhoods are free from violence.

The campaign is part of UNICEF’s broader programme of work with government partners to strengthen prevention and response services on child protection, including parenting programmes, as well as efforts to implement child protection regulations in schools.

UNICEF Representative to China Ms. Amakobe Sande said, “Being a parent is not easy, but all caregivers and teachers can learn positive parenting and disciplining skills. Besides being hugely beneficial to children, these skills help create a stronger bond between caregivers and children as they navigate challenges together. We all have a responsibility to support parents, and teachers, as they raise society’s children.”