The Royal College of Psychiatrists Wales welcomes the report of the National Assembly for Wales' Children, Young People and Education Committee 'Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill'

Reforming legislation into the physical punishment of children means:

• Children in Wales will have the same legal protection as adults as it will be an offence to physically punish them.
• Accordance with Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Wales will join more than 50 other countries worldwide whereby legislation in this area has been successfully implemented.

Dr Amani Hassan, chair of the Child & Adolescent Faculty at Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales, said: 

“It is extremely encouraging and a step forward that teachers and police are backing calls for this law to become a reality. All too often we work with children who are subjected to some form of physical punishment or abuse. 

“Our psychiatrists also treat many patients who suffer from mental disorders that have been brought on by traumatic childhood experiences and research has shown that being exposed to adverse experiences in childhood can have a profoundly negative effect on an individual’s physical and mental development.

“We have always been encouraged that in the past the Welsh Government has promised to fight for a ban on physical punishment, and it’s extremely reassuring to see the National Assembly's Children, Young People and Education committee support this.”

For any further information, please contact Ollie John.