Dear all,

We, Respect, are writing to encourage the Health and Social Care Committee to support an amendment to the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill to ensure that assaults on children that may currently be defended as “reasonable punishment” are made unlawful.

Respect involves men and women working together to end domestic violence; we develop services for male and female perpetrators of domestic violence, young people who use violence and abuse at home and in relationships and for men who are victims of domestic violence.  For further information about Respect please visit our website www.respect.uk.net

Respect believes parenting should not involve the use of physical violence.  An individual’s childhood experience of violence is a form of harm which teaches them that those who are physically stronger can use their strength to get what they want at the expense of others. 

The purpose of changing the law is to send a message that, in Wales at least, no form of inter-personal violence is ever permissible or appropriate.  It should not lead to more prosecutions or social work interventions since the thresholds for both would remain the same, but it should lead to a reduction in the social acceptability of violence as well as protect children from painful, humiliating and damaging treatment.  Given this, we can see no reason why the Welsh Government should hesitate in enacting this measure.

If you would like to follow up, or discuss our response to this consultation further, then please do not hesitate to contact me.  I’d be happy to assist.

Many thanks for giving our response your consideration.

Best wishes,

Joanne

Joanne Creighton, Membership Manager, Respect

Tel: 020 7549 0578 www.respect.uk.net   Please follow us on twitter @RespectUK

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