UNITED KINGDOM: Key battleground in war on corporal punishment

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[6 February 2008] - The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, earmarked the campaign against corporal punishment of children in the United Kingdom as pivotal in the global battle against the practice.

Speaking at a parliamentary event in London, held to discuss legislative reform and organised by the Children Are Unbeatable Alliance, Mr Hammarberg said: “The United Kingdom is one of only five countries in the European Union which has not begun banning all corporal punishment of children.

“If you go for total abolition of corporal punishment in this country, I am sure the rest of Europe will follow.

“The UK has a strong human rights record, and other countries look to them for leadership.”

Members of parliament and the directors of several NGOs spoke at the closed meeting, which was chaired by Dame Mary Marsh, NSPCC Director.

The law in the UK allows parents and others to justify common assault of children as “reasonable punishment.” Campaigners argue children are not given the same protection against violence as adults. Mr Hammarberg said: “I have never heard a politician give a good answer to the question ‘why should adults be protected and not children?’”

Ban rejected

A complete ban on smacking in the UK was rejected by the government late last year after a review suggested most parents, but not children or practitioners, opposed one.

Practitioners felt that the only way to protect children was to ban physical punishment outright. Meanwhile, most children who took part in the study “felt that smacking was out of place in modern childhood.”

But it was the views of parents, who were mostly opposed to an outright ban, which dominated.

At the time, Peter Newell, of the Children are Unbeatable! Alliance said: "The Government consulted very widely and found that an overwhelming majority called for children to enjoy the same rights to protection as adults.

"Support for banning smacking among parents is up to around 20 per cent and increasing. But of course this is an issue of human rights and equality on which Government must lead not follow public opinion. We hope to get the issue back before Parliament very soon.”

Meanwhile, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, England's children's commissioner, said following the rejection that he was "deeply disappointed" by the government's decision.

Mr Hammarberg is on a four day visit to the UK to discuss the human rights situation with British authorities and NGOs. Discussions are focusing on counter-terrorism and immigration, as well as children’s rights.

Further information

 

Country: 
United Kingdom
Issues: 
Domestic violence
Violence: 
Domestic violence

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