As the world marks Children’s Day, Wales is proud to join the global movement to end physical punishment

Universal Children’s Day is marked on 20 November each year and aims to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and to celebrate children’s rights. Wales will soon join other countries around the world in protecting children’s rights by making physical punishment of children illegal in 123 days’ time on 21 March 2022.

Wales will follow in the footsteps of the current tally of 63 nation states who have already outlawed physical punishment, with Sweden being the first in 1979 and Colombia being the latest in May 2021  https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2021-09/global-journey-to-protecting-children-from-physical-punishment.pdf

Bess Herbert, Corporal Punishment Advocacy Specialist at The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, said, “We welcome the significant step forward for children’s rights in Wales through the implementation of legislation which comes into force in March 2022. Removing the defence of reasonable punishment, represents critical progress in making physical punishment a thing of the past, a key recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

“Research tells us physical punishment can have significant negative impacts on the lives of children in the short and long-term, with consequences and costs for society as a whole. Studies suggest two in three of all children under 5 are subjected to physical punishment, with high prevalence seen across the world. Rates have increased higher still during the Covid pandemic.”

The overarching aim of the Welsh Government’s Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020, is to help protect children’s rights and give all children in Wales the best start in life. A comprehensive multi-media stakeholder and public awareness campaign is now underway before the Act comes into force next spring.

The change in law does not create a new offence, rather it removes a 160-year old legal defence which sent the message that it was acceptable for children to be physically punished by their parents or those with parental authority. The law change now gives children the same protection from assault as adults.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the basis for Welsh Government’s policy for children. It recognises any physical punishment is incompatible with the human rights of children.

Bess added “Physical punishment is a breach of children’s human rights. Its widespread social acceptance means that a level of violence in childrearing is normalised, entrenching children’s low status in society and paving the way for other forms of violence and mistreatment.”

Following an invitation from The Global Partnership to End Violence against Children, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan MS, will address an international audience on the work underway in Wales at the UNICEF Global Forum for Children and Youth (CY21) which takes place virtually between 7-9 December.

The Forum aims to be the most authoritative global platform to convene children and young people alongside senior leaders on evidence, solutions and commitments, with children and youth at the centre. Julie Morgan will take part in a spotlight event in the programme called ‘Together to #ENDviolence – at home, at school, online and within the community.