Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:05pm on 17 Apr 2024,Wednesday International
Children's doctors push for making smacking children illegal in England and Northern Ireland, citing current laws as "unjust and dangerously vague." The report highlights lasting mental and physical effects on children. While Scotland and Wales have already prohibited corporal punishment, England and Northern Ireland allow parents to claim "reasonable punishment." The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health urges equal protection for children and emphasizes the harmful impacts of smacking. Experts urge political parties to remove the "reasonable punishment" defense from their manifestos. The UK government states no plans for law change but monitors Scotland and Wales' actions.
