Over the past several decades, the physical punishment of children has increasingly come to be viewed internationally as a violation of children’s fundamental rights. The shift from physical punishment as a necessary element of child rearing to physical punishment as violence has been manifested in law reform in many nations around the world. In Sweden, the recognition that children’s rights to physical integrity merit protection was expressed in a series of legislative explicit prohibition of physical punishment in all settings, including the home. In 1979, Sweden became the first nation to explicitly abolish corporal punishment. The primary purpose of this legislative reform was to affirm the rights of children to an upbringing free of violence. This article examined whether, over time, the use of physical punishment as a method of childrearing would be completely rejected and violence against children would decline. In examining a variety of sources, evidence shows that violence against children has declined in Sweden over recent decades. In addition, Sweden has been very successful in reducing rates of violence against children through legislative reform and public education. Tables and references