THE TELEGRAPH: Britain is one of the few countries in the world not to have completely banned smacking, European Union leaders say, as they called for a change in the law.
The British government’s “unwelcome” intrusion into family affairs was to blame for the delay in the complete ban of the practice, the Council of Europe warned.
The Council, a body which monitors compliance with the European convention on Human rights, also blamed traditional parenting practices that were based on “authority”.
The comments come ahead of a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday where EU leaders and campaigners against the “corporal punishment of children” will criticise the UK government for not banning the practice completely.
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe, said on Monday that 20 countries had "formally abolished laws" against smacking since over the past three year.1998 ruling found it violated a child’s human rights.
"The UK is one of the countries that has not yet implemented a full ban," she said.
“In part, this is because the traditional parent-child relationship in the UK is one of authority [and] state intervention into family affairs is still not welcome.” Smacking ban delays caused by 'unwelcome government intrusion', Europe says >>> Andrew Hough | Monday, April 26, 2010
