By Christina Gallagher
South Africa this week took a step closer to joining an elite group of countries that have abolished corporal punishment when the National Council of Provinces passed the Children's Amendment Bill, which bans the excessive use of chastisement by parents and caregivers.
While the bill outlaws the use of cruel punishment to children, parents who spank their child will not automatically experience repercussions. It does mean, though, that if the bill is eventually passed, parents will no longer be able to use the defence of "reasonable chastisement" in court.
Carol Bower, former head of Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and now a consultant on children's issues, said the bill curbs a culture of violence in South Africa by protecting the rights of children.
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"Of course we are not saying criminalise parents who smack their children, but we need to be able to say to parents that if they need help, it is accessible.
"Smacking a child on the hand is not the issue. It is about children who regularly receive severe hidings. I am quite sure that most people who smack their children have no intention of being violent, but smacking children can escalate to full-blown attacks because parents are unable to cope."
Last year, Childline SA registered nearly
2 000 calls from people, the majority of whom were children, who reported physical abuse. More than
1 000 parents phoned reporting that their children were uncontrollable and that they were having problems disciplining them.
Under the Children's Bill, parents who are reported for administering "inappropriate forms of punishment" to a child will be referred to an early intervention programme, which focuses on parental skills and diverting children from the criminal justice system and children's institutions.
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