Roadshow visits Oxford - March 2010
Supported by the NSPCC, Children Are Unbeatable! and locally by the Mothers' Union, CNNV took the roadshow to The Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys, Oxford on March 16th. The event was attended by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, local MP Andrew Smith and The Rt Revd John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford. The Bishop and the Revd Roger Burne led a candlelit Vigil dedicated to ending legalised violence against children. The Bishop said: "It seems to me crazy that violence against an adult can be the reason for a criminal charge but that violence against children is perfectly acceptable. The need for so called 'discipline' is a poor excuse." The bishop also spoke about the scriptural basis for not being violent towards children: "Whatever the Old Testament might say, Jesus's attitude to children is very clear." Click here for media report:
Roadshow launched in Cambridge - "Growing up without violence, End legalised violence against children" was launched at Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Cambridge on 9 July 2009. The ribbon was cut by Patrick Haizman, from Germany where the law gives children equal protection from assault in the home. Roadshow visitors from countries where smacking has been outlawed expressed surprise that smacking is still legal in the UK. The roadshow will be touring until June 2010 with information and resources for taking action to end corporal punishment, workshops on positive parenting and activities for children and adults.
8th October 2008 - House of Commons fails to vote on equal protection for children
There was insufficient time at the Report Stage of the Children and Young Person's Bill for a cross-party amendment on equal protection to be debated on the floor of the House of Commons.
The current law for England and Wales allows parents and some other carers to justify common assault of children as "reasonable punishment". This legal defence is contained in section 58 of the Children Act 2004. Details of the amendment can be found on the Children Are Unbeatable! website - click here
Churches' Network for Non-violence (CNNV) Vigil: Non-violence and Equal Protection for Children at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey 7th October 2008
During the vigil a half-muffled bell was rung as an act of remembrance for all children who have suffered violence at the hands of adults, including corporal punishment. Young people from the Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance delivered a message. They represent a growing movement of children who want the law to be modernised to put an end to the social and legal acceptance of corporal punishment. The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard gave the address supporting equal protection and asked the question: "Which child would Jesus hit?" The Bishop then washed the children's feet in a symbolic mark of respect for all children. Click here for a copy of the service.
New Zealand Parliament gives children equal protection under the law New Zealand Anglican Bishops support repeal of Section 59 -
In May 2007 the New Zealand Parliament legislated to give children equal protection from assault in the home. An overwhelming majority of the country's parliamentarians supported the cross-party proposal led by Green MP Sue Bradford. All New Zealand Anglican Bishops declared their support for the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act which allowed the use of "reasonable" force "by way of correction" , presenting a signed statement -"Removing the Loophole" - to the Prime Minister, Helen Clark. In response to Christians who argue that the Bible condones corporal punishment the Bishops said: "As Christians, our reading of the Bible must always be done through the lens of Christ's teaching and life."
Click here for full statement by New Zealand Anglican Bishops
Click here for link to information about new book -"Unreasonable Force" New Zealand's journey towards banning the physical punishment of children"by Beth Wood, Ian Hassall and George Hook
South African Council of Churches (SAAC) in support of abolition of corporal punishment
During 2007 the South African Council of Churches (SAAC) an umbrella organisation representing over 16 million Christians of 26 denominations in South Africa - supported by Save the Children produced a document explaining the religious arguments against corporal punishment ("Religions, the Promotion of Positive Discipline and the Abolition of Corporal Punishment"). The Southern African Catholic Bishops' ConferenceParliamentary Liaison Office has also supported prohibition of corporal punishment during the South African Parliamentary deliberations on the Children's Act Amendment Bill in 2007.
A Multi-Religious Commitment to End Violence against Children
The World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) in partnership with UNICEF convened a global consultation of religious leaders and experts in Toledo, Spain. Participants from 30 countries representing many faiths pledged support for the UN Global Study on Violence against Children. The conference produced a Declaration entitled "A Multi-Religious Commitment to Confront Violence against Children" which was endorsed at the 8th World Assembly of Religions for Peace in Kyoto, Japan, in August 2006. It states:
"We call upon our governments to adopt legislation to prohibit all forms of violence against childen, including corporal punishment, and to ensure the effective implementation of these laws and to ensure that religious communities participate formally in these mechanisms."
Click here to download the Kyoto Statement
Ecumenical Service at Coventry Cathedral dedicated to children and non-violence
An Ecumenical Civic Service dedicated to children and non-violence was held at Coventry Cathedral on 14th October 2006 to mark the lauch of the Report of the UN Global Study on Violence against Children. During the service, the Coventry Charter for Children and Non-violence was dedicated. The Charter promotes the rights in the convention on the Rights of the Child and provides a framework for religious communities to address the recommendations of the UN Study, including working with others to eliminate violence, promote positive discipline and advocate for prohibition of corporal punishment.
Click here for Coventry Children's Charter
Click here for copy of the Ecumenical service
Click here for latest developments from the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children and Global Report 2007