The Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance campaigns for the UK to satisfy human rights obligations by modernising the law on assault to afford children the same protection as adults.

Campaign action

Hitting children is wrong and the law should say so

WRITE TO YOUR MP NOW 

Please write to your Member of Parliament urging support for giving children equal protection from assault.

Write to MPs at:

[name] MP

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Or you can email your MP by going to www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm

To find out the name of your MP, please go to www.locata.co.uk/commons/

ADVICE ON THE CONTENT OF YOUR LETTER 

In your letter, you may want to make these points:

• The current law allowing “reasonable punishment” of children is unjust and unsafe.
• Children are people with human rights to physical integrity and human dignity.
• Children’s differences - their smallness and developmental state; their fragility and dependent status - do not justify less protection from being hit than the rest of us take for granted.
• Hitting children is wrong, teaches a lesson in bad behaviour and undermines discipline.
• The law should send a clear message that hitting children is as unacceptable and unlawful as hitting anyone else.
• Children’s human right to equal protection from assault is recognised by United Nations and European treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• There is overwhelming pressure from bodies such as the European Committee of Social Rights for the UK to meet its human rights obligations by giving children equal protection.
• In the 21st century, children should be able to grow up free from all forms of violence.

LETTER-WRITING TIPS 

• Explain that you are a constituent.
• Make sure you include your name and postal address (and your email if you like).
• Explain that your are a parent yourself (if you are!).
• Try to use your own words as much as possible.
• Try to keep your letter to maximum two sides of type, one side if you can.
• Use personal experiences or anecdotes to explain your points.

 Please send a copy of your letter and the reply from your MP to: Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance, 94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF, or by email to info@endcorporalpunishment.org

 Get friends, family and work colleagues to write too.

10 REASONS TO SUPPORT EQUAL PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN Children are being legally hit right now Research commissioned by the Department of Health shows that most UK children are hit and around a third are hit severely (Smith and Nobes, 1997). Support child protection professionals All those involved in protecting children from abuse, from the NSPCC to Social Services Directors, want the law changed to provide a clear basis for child protection. Promote positive parenting The law as it stands undermines the work of health visitors, midwives, early years carers and many others who try to promote positive, non-violent discipline. Cultural change The law sets standards in every sphere of society, including family relationships.  How can we expect parents to stop hitting their children if the law says it’s acceptable? Reform works Children are afforded equal protection from assault in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Austria and many other countries, changing attitudes and behaviour for the better. Human rights obligations The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has twice recommended law reform; the European Social Charter requires abolition of all corporal punishment, and the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that UK law does not provide adequate protection. The law is archaic The law allowing children to be legally hit dates back to the 19th century and is out of step with the values of a modern society. Ordinary people do not oppose change In fact, when asked in a non-sensationalist way, the majority of people support changing the law to give children equal protection (MORI Social Affairs Institute, 2004). It’s the right thing to do Many countries have changed their laws without having public opinion firmly on their side.  They did it because it is the right thing to do for children, children’s rights and child protection, and public attitudes have changed as a result. Hitting children is wrong & the law should say so

CLICK HERE for more detailed information 

CLICK HERE to register as a regular Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance campaigner.