Wales/Cymru

NEWSLETTER NO 1
JANUARY 2002

The U.K wide Children are Unbeatable! Alliance was formed to campaign to give children the same protection as adults under the law on assault, and to promote positive, non-violent discipline. It includes over 300 child health, care, welfare, crime prevention and church organisations across the U.K. They include four Royal Colleges of Health, Parentline, and the Methodist and United Reformed Churches. Over 400 prominent individuals including legal experts, journalists, childcare specialists and celebrities support the Alliance.

'Sdim Curo Plant!/Children are Unbeatable! Cymru was launched in September 2000 to co-ordinate and promote the campaign in Wales. The strategy group comprises representatives of Save the Children, N.S.P.C.C., Barnardos, the National Childminders Association, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Children in Wales. This is a first newsletter for campaign supporters and others who are interested. We plan to issue more. If you would like to receive a copy in future please contact our project co-ordinator - see Welsh Co-ordinator appointed below.

Westminster fails to act to protect children in Wales and England

The Government finally announced on November 8th that it isn't going to make any legislative change to protect children from physical assault, but will simply keep the defence of "reasonable chastisement" under review. (see www.doh.gov.uk). This inaction was immediately condemned by Children Are Unbeatable, and by many leading children's organisations, as a missed opportunity, and a failure of leadership and moral courage on the part of the government.

The government conceded that nearly all the organisations that responded to its consultation document Protecting Children, Supporting Parents, opposed all physical punishment of children, but chose to emphasise that 70% of the individuals who responded were in favour of keeping the status quo.

The Westminster decision directly affects children in Wales because this is not an area of responsibility devolved to the National Assembly. In Scotland the Executive is proposing to ban the physical punishment of children under the age of 3 and to ban shaking, blows to the head and use of implements for all children. Northern Ireland has launched a very humane and comprehensive consultation on various options including a total ban. (Summary available from the Office of Law Reform 028 90542900 or www.olrni.gov.uk)

CAU! are calling for short letters of protest to your M.P. and the Government Minister responsible for the decision. She is: Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS, E-mail: dhmail@doh.gsi.gov.uk

'SDP/CAU! Cymru is writing to Jane Hutt A.M, the Welsh Assembly Minister for Children, to express our great disappointment and to ask how she and the Assembly can make representations to the Government to reconsider a total ban on the physical punishment of children. We are also asking Peter Clarke, the Childrens Commissioner for Wales to make representations to the Assembly to ensure there is adequate protection for the rights of children in Wales. Letters to Jane Hutt, and to the Childrens Commissioner, and to your local Assembly Member, supporting 'SDP!/CAU! Cymru's approach will be most welcome.

N.B Please send us copies of any letters you send!

Welsh Co-ordinator appointed

From January 2002, Jill Taylor is working 2 days a week for 'Sdim Curo Plant!/Children Are Unbeatable! Cymru. Jill works partly from home and partly from Children in Wales. "I am working with the Welsh Strategy Group to get a healthy, open discussion going about this whole issue. " said Jill, "We are aiming for a well informed, mass membership in Wales, which will include children and young people. We want to promote children's rights, supports parents and listen to what people have to say."

If you or your organisation want to be more involved in the campaign, or you want more information, contact Jill at 'Sdim Curo Plant, Children Are Unbeatable, c/o Children in Wales, 25 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BZ, Tel: 02920342434 or Tel/Fax :01443 479547, E-mail: jill.taylor@childrenareunbeatable.fsnet.co.uk

Children are Unbeatable Supporters' Conference!

Wednesday, January 9th 2002 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. Abbey Community Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, London SW1

A day conference to update supporters on the progress towards achieving our aims across the UK and to pool ideas for maximising the Alliance's impact in the crucial period ahead. Programme includes: Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales updates, a presentation by Young People's Rights Network, research and practical workshops. All welcome! Only £20.00 per person.

To reserve a place contact
CAU!, 77 Holloway Road, London N7 8JZ
Tel: 020 7700 0627 Fax: 020 7700 1105
E-mail: info@endcorporalpunishment.org

Childminding Standards in Wales

'SCP!/CAU! Cymru is very pleased that the Assembly has proposed that Childminders in Wales should never shake, smack or humiliate children and has taken a different line from Westminster on this vital issue. The Assembly stance is the one supported by the National Childminders Association. The responses to the recent consultation on the proposals are now being analysed. New regulations and standards are being drafted to go before the Assembly in February 2002 for final approval.

How to join 'Sdim Curo Plant! Children Are Unbeatable! Cymru

If your organisation and/or you individually would like to sign up and be listed as a supporter of 'Sdim Curo Plant!/Children are Unbeatable! Cymru we can send you copies of our statement to sign.

We are looking to publish a list of Welsh supporters in the spring. If you have contacts with any well-known people who would support the campaign, please recruit them and let us know!

For forms contact Louise Harries at Children in Wales, 25 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BZ, Tel 02920342434, E-mail louise.harries@childreninwales7.fsnet.co.uk