Many of New Zealand's most reputable child and family advocacy organisations are united in the campaign to repeal section 59 of the Crimes Act. Repeal gives a clear message that hitting children is not OK.
Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 currently states:
âEvery parent of a child or...every person in the place of the parent of a child is justified in using force by way of correction towards the child, if the force used is reasonable in the circumstancesâ.
Section 59 is used exclusively in the courtroom, as a defence used by parents against prosecution.
The repeal of section 59 would eliminate this protection.
Full repeal is necessary because:
Hitting children is a risk factor in poor child and adult outcomes
Hitting children is the least effective way to improve child behaviour
Section 59 breaches New Zealand's international obligations in relation to Article 19 of UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child
We all have the right to live in families and communities that are free from violence.
Your comments, stories and suggestions are very welcome.
| During the debate about whether or not to repeal s.59, some New Zealanders have expressed a fear that decent, loving parents would be criminalised for minor physical punishment of their children, if s.59 were repealed. That fear was based on an assumption that parents who smack their child would be reported to the Police and that every report would result in a prosecution.
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posted at 8/25/2006 04:47:00 pm
