Implications of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill

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

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A new article by Dr Louise Hill at Celcis presents international evidence supporting the proposed Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill and calls for regular public awareness campaigns to promote positive parenting and non-violent forms of discipline to ensure children’s equal right to human dignity and physical integrity is respected.

Hill gives an overview of the global context, highlighting that the UK one of six European Union member states without full prohibition in legislation, and one of only four without any commitment to law reform. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)’s 2016 concluding observations urged the UK and devolved governments to: prohibit as a matter of priority all corporal punishment in the family, including through the repeal of all legal defences, such as “reasonable chastisement”.

Finally, the article presents evidence which debunks concerns raised in response to the plan to introduce legal reform prohibiting physical punishment such as whether it will lead to the unnecessary criminalisation of parents and / or lead to a strain on public services investigating allegations.

·         Read the article here.

·         Read Together’s 2017 briefing on Equal Protection.

·         Read the current status of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill on the Scottish Parliament website.