Consultation on Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill

Date: 16th November 2018
Category: Equal protection from violence

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Closing date: 25^th January 2019

Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee (EHRiC) is seeking views on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 6 September 2018. The Bill aims to remove the legal defence of "justifiable assault", bringing Scotland in line with UNCRC recommendations and with most other European countries. If the bill is passed, Scotland will join more than 50 other countries worldwide that have already committed to ensuring that children are protected from physical punishment.

A copy of the Bill and accompanying documents can be found here.

The Committee would particularly welcome responses on the following questions. You are welcome to focus just on those that are relevant to or interest you. Please limit your response to no more than four sides of A4.

• Do you support the Bill’s aim to end the physical punishment of children by parents or carers? It will do this by abolishing the defence of reasonable chastisement. Please provide an explanation for your response. What groups would be impacted by the change (for example, parents, children, public services, the legal profession, etc)?
• Do you see any additional impact on groups with protected characteristics?
• Are there any equalities and human rights issues raised by the approach taken in the Bill that should be considered?
• Will the Bill result in any resource implications for your organisation or you as an individual? If so, please explain and provide any supporting information.
• Additional comments on the Bill are also welcome.

For more information, you are welcome to contact the Committee on Twitter (@SP_EHRiC) or by emailing equalities.humanrights@parliament.scot.

• Submit response to the consultation here.
• Read Together’s 2017 briefing on Equal Protection.