So-called 'reasonable chastisement' sends out a dangerous and misleading message about the acceptability of violence towards children and, in some 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.
Cultural change is badly needed and only the law can drive this forward.
The last substantial study, commissioned by the Department of Health in the 1990s, shows that most children are hit and around a third are punished severely. Belts, canes and slippers are still used and most babies are 'smacked' before their first birthday.
How can we expect real change if the law says hitting children is acceptable, which it does now? It is vital that the law discourages this behaviour, champions changes in attitudes and underpins public education initiatives.
This is already happening across Europe. Germany, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Cyprus and many more countries have modernised their laws, and we should too.
The way forward is to give children the same protection from being hit as adults enjoy. This means scrapping the archaic law allowing 'reasonable chastisement'. I am not pleading a special case for children, simply equal protection.
New survey findings show that the British public see the logic of this case. According to the MORI poll, seven in ten people support reform of this kind. It is now up to the Westminster politicians to act.
Glenys Kinnock MEP
c/o Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance
