Nursery World - It's time to be reasonable

By Peter Newell, co-ordinator of Children Are Unbeatable!, an alliance of more than 350 organisations that campaigns for law reform on the physical punishment of children Equal protection is every child's right. Yet, even though children are among the weakest and most vulnerable people in our society, the law allowing 'reasonable chastisement' means that they have less protection from being hit in the home than adults.

Equal protection is every child's right. Yet, even though children are among the weakest and most vulnerable people in our society, the law allowing 'reasonable chastisement' means that they have less protection from being hit in the home than adults.

So-called 'reasonable chastisement' sends out a misleading message about the acceptability of violence towards children and, in a few cases, the legal defence is used in court to excuse beatings. Dating back to 1860, this law is out of step with modern family values.

The human right of every child to physical integrity in his or her own home must be a key pillar of 21st century family life. We must strive for better things for all children, even if we did 'smack' our own children or were beaten ourselves at a young age.

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