GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

that a little smack is okay and it does no one any harm, but there is

overwhelming evidence that physical punishment is harmful to children. A UN

study on violence against children was the first comprehensive global study to

make it clear that corporal punishment both hurts and damages children. It can

lead to lower quality of parent/child relationships, poorer mental health in

childhood and, indeed, in adulthood, higher levels of aggression and antisocial

behaviour and an increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse.

Adults who smack their children usually mean well, they think it is the right thing

to do, but smacking models aggressive behaviour, it tells children that it is okay

to use violence. Adults often use smacking in the heat of the moment, in temper

or because they do not know what to do. There are many more effective ways

of teaching children right from wrong than by hitting them. We know that

children thrive best with firm boundaries and positive discipline. It is possible to

teach children how to behave without threats, bribes, yelling or physicality.

Evidence indicates that smacking is associated with a range of negative

outcomes and it gives a bad example on how to handle strong emotions. It

leads to lying in order to avoid being smacked and to resentful children and

damaged family relationships. When asked how it felt being smacked by a

parent one child responded: “It really hurt, it stings and it makes me feel

horrible inside”.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires the prohibition in law

and the elimination in practice of all corporal punishment in all settings, because

it is a breach of the child’s right to protection from assault. The NSPCC has

long campaigned for non-violent parenting. Many European countries already

have full bans on smacking, including Sweden, the Republic of Ireland, Spain,

Germany and in Wales and Scotland, our own two devolved countries, moves

to introduce a ban are well advanced. The Welsh Children’s Minister is quoted

as saying: “Physically punishing a child is outdated and no longer acceptable in

modern society”. It is time for a ban to be placed across all of the UK. We do

not accept violence in the workplace, we do not allow violence in schools, we

do not accept domestic violence between adults in their homes, so now is the

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