Wales takes first step towards equal protection, now Scotland must lead the way
Scottish Green MSP John Finnie has welcomed progress on equal protection of children in Wales.
The Welsh bill to remove the legal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ was backed at its first stage in the Senedd today, with AMs voting for the proposed legislation.
Next month John Finnie’s Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Member's Bill is expected to complete its parliamentary journey at Holyrood, which will remove the legal defence of ‘justifiable assault’ from Scots law.
Commenting on the decision by the Welsh Assembly, John Finnie MSP said: “It is great to see our Welsh counterparts following Scotland’s lead in recognising the right of children to have right to have equal protection from assault.
“We still have the final stage of my bill to come next month, and MSPs will have an opportunity to show how Holyrood can show courageous leadership in the UK. I’m sure members of the Welsh Assembly will be watching, as well as representatives in the other nations of these isles.
“It’s vital that we stand by the overwhelming evidence which shows physical punishment impacts on mental and physical health, and that we pave the way for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to be written into Scots law by passing my bill.”