Article 302 of the Civil Code now expressly states that parents must bring up their child ‘without the use of violence’ – specifically, without corporal punishment or other forms of degrading treatment. This includes not only physical blows or slaps, but also psychological violence such as humiliation, intimidation, verbal abuse or the deliberate belittling of a child.

Until now, Swiss family law has lacked such an explicit obligation on the part of parents and carers. Although the authorities were able to intervene to protect children when their welfare was at risk, and to prosecute cases of serious violence under criminal law, the law did not explicitly state that violence has no place whatsoever in parenting. It is precisely this gap that is now being closed.

By international standards, this move is long overdue. Sweden banned the corporal punishment of children as early as 1979. Germany followed suit in 2000, whilst Austria had already done so in 1989. Switzerland is now catching up with a standard that has long been in place in many European countries.

Well into the 20th century, corporal punishment was regarded in Switzerland as an acceptable means of discipline, provided it was considered ‘moderate’. With the reform of family law, which came into force in 1980, the parental right to corporal punishment was gradually removed from the legislation. However, the principle of non-violent parenting was never expressly enshrined in law.