Physical punishment of children in Wales becomes illegal

Physical punishment of children in Wales becomes illegal
March 21, 2022, 8:44 am

Smacking children in Wales becomes illegal (File photo: Pixabay)

The BBC reported, parents smacking their children will be illegal in Wales from Monday.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said it was a "historic" day for children as Wales becomes the second UK nation to ban physical punishment.

The legal defence of reasonable punishment has been removed, so anyone who smacks a child in their care could be arrested and prosecuted for assault.

Critics claim the new law was pushed through "by those who think they know better than parents".

Jersey was the first part of the British Isles to ban smacking in April 2020 before Scotland became the first UK nation to make it illegal in November 2020.

UK parliament-Big Ben (File photo: Pixabay)

The Welsh government said it was a "historic moment for children and their rights in Wales" and meant children would have the same rights as adults.

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It should be noted that Sweden became the first country in the world to ban physical punishment of children in 1979 and it is now illegal in 63 nations around the world.

Source: BBC

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