Consultation launched on giving children equal protection in law

Green MSP John Finnie has launched a consultation on a proposed member’s bill to give children equal protection from assault in Scotland.
The consultation will run until 4 August, giving the public the opportunity to have their say on the issue.
The UK is one of only four countries in the EU that continues to allow legal physical punishment of children.
The proposed bill has the support of a number of children’s charities and other organisations including the Church of Scotland, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, NSPCC, Children 1st, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner and Barnardo’s.
The UN has also recently reiterated that allowing physical punishment of children in law is a breach of children’s human rights, and has recommended that these laws are amended immediately.
The HRCS encourages all members to take part in the consultation here.

 

Image credit: Sarah Horrigan, Flickr