Scotland becomes first part of UK to ban smacking

By ITS Education Asia

Scotland's ban on parents smacking their children has become law, making it the first part of the UK to outlaw physical punishment of under-16s.

Parents and carers were previously allowed to use physical force to discipline their children if it was considered "reasonable chastisement”. The new law means that the so-called "justifiable assault" defence is no longer available. It seeks to give children the same protection from assault as adults.

It should be noted that corporal punishment of children is still legal under Hong Kong law. This article is a timely reminder that discussion should continue in Hong Kong as to whether it should follow the lead of many other countries in banning corporal punishment of children.

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