SCOTLAND will be hailed as the first nation in the UK to outlaw the physical punishment of children when a landmark bill is passed at Holyrood next week.
SNP, Labour, Greens and LibDem MSPs are expected to support the legislation brought forward by the Greens’ John Finnie when it comes to the chamber a final vote on Thursday. The Tories are expected to be the only party to oppose it.
The move also follows a long-running campaign by charities and doctors. It will mean Scotland will be compliant with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and will be the 58th country globally to end all forms of physical punishment against children. Other countries to have done so include the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Denmark.
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Mary Glasgow, the chief executive of Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, said: “The Scottish Parliament is set to make history next Thursday by making Scotland the first country in the UK to end physical punishment of children.
“By supporting John Finnie’s bill, our politicians can place Scotland among the world’s leading nations in protecting our most vulnerable and precious citizens, our children.”
The bill provides children with the same protection from assault as adults, by abolishing the defence of reasonable chastisement. It does not create a new criminal offence.
Glasgow added: “This is a momentous step forward for children and their families and it is hugely encouraging to see the widespread support from across Holyrood for this much-needed change.
“Scotland has long led the way among the nations of the UK in its approach to the issues that face children and their families, from our pioneering children’s hearing system to the way we’ve addressed knife crime and the introduction of the baby box.
“With the passing of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) Bill, MSPs will again blaze a trail, which the rest of the UK should follow.”
Finnie’s consultation showed 75% of respondents were in favour of the ban while 25% were not. Supporters argued physical punishment can cause long-term harm to children and that a change in law was needed to stop parents smacking their children.
Children said smacking hurts and upsets them and does not always stop bad behaviour.
Glasgow added: “All of the professional organisations who gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament during the passage of the Bill made it clear that the bill would not criminalise parents ... families can be reassured by Ireland, where they have already reformed the law and seen no increase in prosecutions.
“The vote will be a landmark moment for Scotland, taking us ever closer to fulfilling the ambition of becoming the best country in the world for children to grow up in.”
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