NSPCC NI urges public to back campaign to help end physical punishment of children

NSPCC Northern Ireland has launched a major public appeal across Derry and the North West, calling on residents to help end the "legal inequality" that leaves children with less protection from assault than adults.

In a 'Letter to the Editor', the charity is urging the public to sign an NSPCC petition calling on Stormont to make sure children in Northern Ireland can grow up with the same legal protection from assault as adults.

"The NSPCC believes that children should be able to grow up in a world where they are protected from harm. Yet in Northern Ireland, the law still allows parents or those caring for a child to physically discipline them, by enabling them to raise a defence of ‘reasonable punishment’.

"This means that a parent or carer physically harming a child can be justified and that children in Northern Ireland have less protection from harm in law than adults.

"Physical punishment should never be part of any childhood.

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"The NSPCC has long been campaigning for a change in the law and is urging all political parties to support an amendment tabled to the Justice Bill currently progressing through the Assembly that would remove this outdated legal defence on the physical punishment of children.

"We are also asking the people of Co Derry and the North-West to support our campaign by signing our petition via this link: End Physical Punishment petition or going to www.nspcc.org.uk and searching ‘Petition’ and adding their name to the thousands already calling on Stormont to make sure children in Northern Ireland can grow up with the same legal protection from assault as everyone else.

"Decades of research show that physical punishment can harm children’s wellbeing, damage relationships of trust, and increase the risk of behavioural and emotional difficulties later in life.

"In fact, a 2024 report published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) showed that children who experience physical punishment are up to 2.6 times more likely to experience mental health problems and up to 2.3 times likely to go on to experience significant harm through more serious forms of physical abuse.  

"Across the world, 70 countries have now passed laws giving children equal protection from assault as adults - these include Scotland, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Jersey. 

"We cannot afford to wait until the next Assembly mandate – by changing the law through the tabled amendment, our society sends a clear message to children and families that violence in the home will not be tolerated. 

"Removing the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ would bring clarity to the law and support the continued shift towards positive parenting. It would also support parents to raise their children with empathy, and it would give professionals, parents and carers the clarity they tell us they want. 

"Most importantly, it would ensure children here are afforded the same legal protection from assault as everyone else.  

"Now is the time for action. Sign the petition. Children deserve nothing less."

Yours, Caroline Cunningham, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, NSPCC Northern Ireland.