Deep disappointment as ‘smacking ban’ amendment excluded from NI Justice Bill

Northern Ireland Humanists has expressed deep disappointment after an amendment to remove the legal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ of children was excluded from the Consideration Stage of Northern Ireland’s Justice Bill.

The amendment, tabled by Alliance MLA Michelle Guy, would have given children the same legal protection from physical assault as adults by removing the criminal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ from Northern Ireland law. The Equal Protection Working Group, a coalition of children’s rights organisations, health professional bodies, charities, and community and voluntary sector groups, said it was unclear why the amendment was not selected for debate and described the decision as a ‘major missed opportunity’.

Northern Ireland Humanists had previously joined over 250 organisations and professionals calling on Stormont to support the amendment. It said reform would bring Northern Ireland into line with Scotland, Wales, Jersey, the Republic of Ireland, and around 70 countries worldwide, where children already have equal protection under assault laws.

Commenting on the decision, Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator said:

‘We are deeply disappointed that this amendment has been excluded from debate. The current law sends the wrong message by allowing adults to justify physical punishment in circumstances where the victim is a child.

‘Children and young people deserve the same basic protection from violence as everyone else. Northern Ireland is now falling even further behind other parts of these islands, where equal protection has already been achieved. Children’s rights, dignity, and wellbeing should not be treated as optional or secondary.

‘This setback must not be the end of the matter. The Executive and Assembly should urgently find another route to remove the ‘reasonable punishment’ defence and give children equal protection under the law.’