On November 2, 2004, the British House of Commons voted 424-75 against a ban on hitting children in England and Wales, opting instead for a compromise amendment criminalizing hitting that leaves marks or causes mental harm. The outright ban was opposed by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Proponents of the ban argued that children should receive the same protection from hitting that adults do, while opponents argued that the measure would invade family privacy. The amendment was part of the larger Children Bill^PDF.

UK coat of arms

Learn more about the rights of children from the JURIST news archive.

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