Assault will send a clear message to all of us about how we treat Put away the switches and canes — Scotland is expected to be the first country in the UK to ban smacking children.
A member of the Scottish Greens political party, John Finnie, proposed the law in an effort to ensure children equal protection from assault, The Guardian reported.
Finnie told the outlet the bill would remove the defense of “justifiable assault” from Scottish law, guaranteeing children the same legal protection as adults, the outlet reported.
“Giving children equal protection against each other and underpin Scotland’s efforts to reduce violence,” Finnie said.
“The physical punishment of children is already illegal in 52 countries and my proposal will give children in Scotland the necessary protections to flourish in a healthy environment and encourage the building of stronger relationships between children, their parents and others who care for them.”
The three-month public consultation on the proposed bill, which took place over the summer, received a positive response from public organizations and individuals, including the Scottish Police Federation.
The UK is currently one of four countries in the European Union that has not committed to reforming law surrounding the physical punishment of minors.
Link: http://nypost.com/2017/10/19/spanking-your-kid-could-soon-be-a-crime-in-scotland