Scotland set to be the first UK country to introduce a smacking ban

In 2015, 

ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology/" target="_blank">EPH researchers Dr Anja Heilmann, Prof Yvonne Kelly and Prof Richard Watt  produced a report which showed that there was ample evidence that physical punishment can damage children and escalate into physical abuse.

Together with the children's charities that commissioned the report, they called for urgent action to provide children with the same legal protection against violence that adults enjoy. The report was at the heart of Scottish MSP John Finnie's proposed Children (Equal Protection from Assault) Bill which the Scottish Government have just announced support for in their programme this coming year. The Bill would make Scotland the first UK country to outlaw all physical punishment by removing the defence of "justifiable assault" of children, and giving them the same protection as adults Read more

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