EPOCH New Zealand

23 May 2013

The latest Global Initiative to end all Corporal Punishment of Children newsletter (No 23 April 2013) contains updates about efforts to end corporal punishment in all settings around the world as well as news from human rights monitoring bodies.

Of particular interest (given that physical punishment is still sometimes justified by its proponents as effective and harmless in some circumstances) is a report on the Global Initiative’s ongoing review of research into the effects of corporal punishment.  The newsletter summarises the research as follows:

The evidence that corporal punishment is harmful to children, adults and societies is overwhelming. The more than 150 studies included in the Global Initiative's new review of research on the effects of corporal punishment show associations between corporal punishment and a wide range of negative outcomes, including: direct physical harm, negative impacts on mental and physical health, poor moral internalisation, increased aggression in children, increased perpetration and experience of violence in adults, increased antisocial behaviour, poor cognitive development, and damaged family relationships. Intended for use by advocates for prohibition, the review shows how corporal punishment violates not just children's right to freedom from all violence, but also their rights to health, development and education.

22 May 2013

The latest report on New Zealand Police monitoring of their activity in regards to section 59 was released in April 2013 and covers the period 22^nd December to June 2012.  Police have monitored enactment of the law for 5 years.

The police classify the cases which they review as:

• Smacking: A slap with an open hand on buttocks or legs that does not result in any form of injury.
• Minor act of physical discipline: A slap with an open hand on any other part of the body that does not result in any injury.
• Child assault: Any form of assault (from a slap with an open hand to being hit with an instrument) that results in injury (including redness of the skin and bruising).

Police attended 355 events during the period covered by the 11^th Review.  This is fewer than for the previous 5 periods.  12 of these involved smacking, 31 involved minor acts of physical discipline.  252 were other child assault and in 60 cases no offence was disclosed.  No “smacking” event resulted in prosecutions and nine of the “minor acts of physical discipline” were prosecuted.  133 incidents of child assaults resulted in prosecution.  The cases of “minor physical discipline” prosecuted all involved blows to the head or face with an open hand.  In the eight cases resulting in conviction, a range of non-custodial sentences were given.

Of the “smacking” and “minor acts of physical discipline” events attended, 32 incidents were referred to the child protection services, 20 were referred for inter-agency case management meetings and six were referred to other support services.  Some events were referred to both child protection and another agency.

It can be concluded that the 2007 law change is being implemented sensibly.  The Police are not overrun with inappropriate referrals, there are relatively few prosecutions at the lower end of the scale, many children are better protected and many parents offered support when appropriate.

20 March 2013

Progress towards ending all corporal punishment of children.

The National Assembly of Pakistan has passed a bill prohibiting corporal punishment of children in schools.

More than half the children In the European Union are now protected from all forms of corporal punishment.

13 March 2013

Latest Global Initiative newsletter published

The latest newsletter from the Global Initiative to end all corporal punishment of children published in January 2013 confirms that interest in ending corporal punishment of children remains high in many parts of the world with numerous moves towards legal reform and campaigns for prohibition happening across the world.  Human rights treaty monitoring bodies continue to make strong recommendations about ending corporal punishment of children. The Global Initiative’s “Global Progress Report” was published in 2012.  Thirty three states have prohibited the use of corporal punishment in all settings and many other states have opportunity for reform.  Research from throughout the world continues to indicate that violence toward children, including corporal punishment, is still widespread in some parts of the world despite all the evidence now available of its negative effects on children.  A study of 10 group-training parenting programmes found that all mentioned corporal punishment with nine explicitly and one implicitly discouraging its use.

20 November 2012

The Canadian Institute of Child Health, Ottawa, Canada, presented Joan Durrant, Ron Ensom and Corinne Robertshaw each with an 'Innovation' award for the work they have done to further the health and well being of children. It will be presented in Ottawa on 19 Nov 2012. The recipients have been active for a very long time on the issue of reform of Canadian law on physical punishment of children.

Many supporters of repeal of s59 Crimes Act will recall hearing Dr Durrant speaking at public meetings when she visited New Zealand during the repeal campaign.