NSPCC comment on Huw Irranca-Davies AM statement about removal of the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’
Following Minister for Children Huw Irranca-Davies’ statement reaffirming that the Welsh Government is committed to introduce legislation to remove the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’, an NSPCC Cymru / Wales spokesman said: “Minister for Children Huw Irranca-Davies is right when he says that physical punishment has no place Wales.
“The NSPCC has long campaigned for children in Wales to have the same protection against assault as adults, so we welcome the steps being taken by the Welsh Government towards removing the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’.
“Every child deserves equal protection under the law and should be protected from such draconian forms of discipline.
“It is wrong that a defence which does not exist in a case of common assault against an adult can be used to justify striking a child.
“Closing this loophole would also bring Wales in line with dozens of countries around the world.”
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