Parents in Switzerland are set to be barred from slapping, spanking and administering any other form of corporal punishment on their children, under plans approved by the National Council. The decision has been hailed by youth groups, who say it is a fundamental step forward for children’s rights.
At a vote on May 5, the lower house of the Swiss parliament voted in favour of enshrining the principle of non-violent parenting into law. The proposal passed by 134 votes to 56, and will now be sent to the Council of States for approval.
Under the change, all forms of corporal punishment will not be acceptable at Swiss schools or at home. "Spanking, slapping, and hair-pulling no longer have a place in children's bedrooms," Green National Councillor Raphaël Mahaim argued during the debate.
According to a February 2025 study from the University of Zurich, 14 percent of parents in Switzerland resort to corporal punishment when disciplining their children. If passed, the law would bring the country into line with the likes of Germany, France, Austria and many other nations across Europe who have officially banned the practice.
Supporters argue that while physical and psychological punishments will be verboten, parents can still use their authority to administer discipline. "Telling a child that they haven't respected the rules and that they are being punished is showing authority without being violent. Saying that they are being punished and that if they do it again, they will be abandoned - that is psychological violence that should no longer have a place," explained Social Democratic National Councillor Jessica Jaccoud.
"Reframing and authority remain possible, for example, depriving a child of screen time or a teenager of going outside. It's like at school: a slap on the fingers is a no, an hour's detention is a yes," Mahaim added. Youth advocacy group Pro Juventute told 20 Minuten that the proposal is “an important step for children’s rights”, at a time when “more and more children” are turning to their counseling services with questions about domestic violence.
For others, like Swiss People’s Party National Councillor Manfred Bühler, the proposal sends “a catastrophic signal of the collapse of parental authority. Too many children have lived under overprotection in an environment where they were never told no." "We must not believe that everything can be resolved with kind words.”
He argued that while he “in no way advocates a harsh education," the threat of it should remain. "Wanting to ban all corporal punishment is a bit like disarming the police or eliminating a country's army…So let's not symbolically disarm parents."