Parents should be banned from smacking children, UN tells Britain
Committee says it should be repealed and that 'non-violent forms of discipline' should be encouraged
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UK should ban parents from smacking their children, United Nations human rights experts have said.
In a wide-ranging report, the UN Human Rights Committee called for Britain to implement a number of measures in order to comply with international treaties, including the holding of independent investigations into murders and other human rights abuses during Northern Ireland’s Troubles and improvements to the way human rights abuses by the Armed Forces overseas are dealt with.
It also said the age of criminal responsibility – which is 10 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and eight in Scotland although children there can only be prosecuted when they reach 12 – was “not in accordance with international standards” and should be raised.
“The Committee remains concerned that corporal punishment is still not fully outlawed in the home and certain educational and alternative care facilities,” its report said.
“It is further concerned about the existing legal defences of ‘reasonable punishment’ in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or ‘justifiable assault’ in Scotland.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments