Last month, the Welsh Government has published its three-year post-implementation review of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020, which confirms that the landmark law banning the hitting of children is protecting children’s rights while supporting families. Wales Humanists has welcomed the report and hopes that the UK and Northern Ireland governments use this evidence to bring the same protections into law across England and NI.
The review shows a cultural shift since the law came into force. Public awareness of the change in law is high, with 95% of parents now knowing that hitting children is illegal, and the vast majority viewing hitting as ineffective. The approach to the change in Wales has focused on education and support, including parenting programmes that help families build positive, non-violent relationships.
At the start of 2025, the UK Government rejected a cross-party proposal to ban hitting children in England, arguing it was better to wait to see the assessment of the impact of the ban in Wales. Now that the positive impact for children has been reported in Wales, the UK Government need to act immediately.
Wales Humanists Coordinator Kathy Riddick commented:
‘We fully supported the removal of the “reasonable punishment” defence when Wales legislated in 2020, and we have since consistently argued that children everywhere should enjoy the same legal protection from assault as adults and as their peers in Wales and Scotland.
‘Evidence from Wales shows that reform strengthens safeguarding, provides clarity for professionals, and helps parents without resorting to punitive measures. There is a strong consensus among health, child protection, and children’s rights organisations that this change is now overdue in England and Northern Ireland.’
Humanists UK will continue to press the UK and Northern Ireland governments to learn from Wales and take steps to make sure that all children, wherever they live, are safe, valued, and respected in law.
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Wales Humanists Coordinator Kathy Riddick at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read our report on the abolition of reasonable punishment in Wales here
Read more about our work on the Children and Wellbeing Bill in England here
The full Welsh Government report can be read here
Wales Humanists is part of Humanists UK. Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.