French parents who’ve relied on spanking to discipline their kids will now have to find a different way to get the same message across.
TODAY.com reports that, on December 22, the French parliament passed the Equality and Citizenship Bill, which bans all forms of corporal punishment, including spanking, caning and flogging.
According to a release from the office of Marta Santos Pais, special representative of the secretary-general (S.R.S.G.) on violence against children, Article 68 of the Equality and Citizenship bill says that, “the exercise of parental authority must exclude any cruel, degrading or humiliating treatment, including corporal punishment.”
Child abuse was already illegal in France, but this new piece of legislation makes spanking a civil offense — meaning that offenders won’t face criminal charges, according to TODAY.
“The adoption of this new legislation marks a very important commitment towards the protection from violence of more than 14 million children living in France,” says S.R.S.G. Santos Pais, commending the parliament for passing the bill. “Ending cruel, degrading or humiliating treatment is an indispensable component of a comprehensive national strategy for the prevention and elimination of violence against children. It lays the foundation for a culture of respect for children‘s rights; safeguards children’s dignity and physical integrity; and encourages positive discipline and education of children through non-violent means.”
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And according to TODAY.com, research shows that spanking can lead to low self-esteem, aggressive behavior and substance abuse or addiction problems as they get older. It can also affect the child’s learning abilities.
Santos Pais points out that Sweden was the first country to ban corporal punishment and the humiliating treatment of children in 1979. Since then, more than 50 countries worldwide have banned all forms of violence against children. However, according to Fox News, the United States doesn’t currently have a ban on spanking.
So, how can you discipline your child without spanking? TODAY.com reports that timeouts, reasoning and removal of privileges can be far more effective tactics.
