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Closed Abolish the legal defence of Reasonable Chastisement in England

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The legal defence of Reasonable Chastisement allows parents to use punishment against children, including physical punishment.

There is over 50 years of data which has found that punishment is not effective and can be harmful to the physical and cognitive development of the child.

Corporal (physical) punishment, shouting and threatening punishment are not appropriate behaviours to be modelling to children and we believe are forms of abuse.

Children who are subject to physical punishment can end up being more aggressive, have an increased risk of developing mental & physical health problems, addiction problems and be more likely to become abusive and have problems in later relationships.

This defence directly contravenes the child’s inalienable right to freedom from harm.

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    This petition will stay open until 17 December 2021.