Nursery World - Child protection must 'include smacking'

An alliance of more than 180 organisations committed to children's rights has criticised the Government for not referring to smacking in its child protection Green Paper, Every child matters. The Children's Rights Alliance for England, in its annual review of UK Government action on the UN convention on the rights of the child, published last week, said, 'The Green Paper, aimed at reforming child protection, does not mention smacking.

The Children's Rights Alliance for England, in its annual review of UK Government action on the UN convention on the rights of the child, published last week, said, 'The Green Paper, aimed at reforming child protection, does not mention smacking.

'The Adoption and Children Act 2002, passed in November 2002, acknowledges the damage done to children from witnessing violence in the home. So long as the reasonable chastisement defence remains, babies and children who witness violence will have greater protection than those who are directly assaulted.'

Members of the Alliance include the National Children's Bureau, the National Childminding Association, the Daycare Trust, the NSPCC and the Anna Freud Centre.

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