In Scotland, parents will be banned from corporal punishment of their children in the future. The Edinburgh parliament passed a law on Thursday, which is due to enter into force after twelve months. The Scots are thus the first nation in the United Kingdom to ban parents from punishing their children.
Bill today, giving children the same protection against assault as adults already have. Well done to @JohnFinnieHI for introducing it to @MareeToddMSP for work on behalf of @scotgov https://t.co/DCr4xuPHFz
- Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 3, 2019Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said via Twitter that children would in future have the same protection against attacks as adults. So far, Scottish law has allowed parents or guardians to use "reasonable" physical violence to educate children.
With a vote of 84 votes in favor and 29 votes against, the ban has now been decided - even though 57 percent of the Scots were against it, according to a survey by YouGov.
In Germany, parents and teachers have been barred by corporal punishment since 2000. Sweden has had such a law since 1979.