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Page Location: CASI > Issues > Justice > Violence
Against Children
Violence against children
News
Following on from all the discussion about Sue Bradford's bill,
and the eventual amending of Section 59 of the Crimes
Act (the section that used to allow parents the defence of "reasonable
force" in
disciplining their children), CASI has been looking at what this
means in terms of parents' ability to discipline their children.
What is a proper view of Christian discipline of our children?
Will this Bill deprive parents of any authority in their own
families? We have prepared a discussion document to help groups
to work through the issues.
You can download the document from here
(pdf file; 127KB), or email
us for a print copy.
Continued opposition
Groups who opposed the changes to Section 59 have not been prepared
to accept the decision of Parliament and are working to have
a referendum on the issue included in the next election. See
some of the sites listed below, for those opposed to the legislation.
Surely even Larry Baldock must have felt some dissonance in using
a showing of the film Amazing Grace to promote
the referendum proposal!
History
Sue Bradford's Bill, which in its original form proposed the
complete repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act, caused an enormous
amount of controversy in New Zealand. The following links and
documents follow some of the discussion for and against the Bill.
The Select Committee released its report on the Bradford Bill
on the 20 November 2006. The 15 page report discussed the issues
for and against the Bill, and recommended ammendments to the
original Bill. The Act as finally voted on followed these recommendations,
only adding a clause to cover Police discretion.
There
were a number of organisations and groups opposed to the
Bradford Bill:
And others who supported the Bill
"A risk of half-measures"
Following the introduction of Sue Bradford's Private Members'
Bill repealing S 59 of the Crimes Act, EPOCH comments: "The
risk now is that the Government will introduce half-measures – a
likely scenario being partial reform (amendment) to define in
law how children can be hit." For example, an amendment
to the Crimes Act might state that children may not be hit on
the head or neck; and not hit with implements. EPOCH New Zealand
believes that partial reform would achieve very little. The law
would still say to parents that it is okay for big people to
hit little people. It would still provide legal support for this
use of force in domestic matters. A form of family violence would
still be legal (August 2005). Full
EPOCH newsletter
Parents Centres support repeal of S. 59
Scoop,
July 2005
Child-beating law set to go, say Greens
Sue Bradford's Bill which seeks to repeal section 59 of the
Crimes Act has been drawn for consideration by Parliament. (9
June 2005) More
Parenting programme first
The Government will not be considering repeal of S.59 of the
Crimes Act again until after an evaluation of the positive parenting
programme launched last week [May 2004] .... More
Reports
Physical punishment of children is associated with the development
of antisocial behaviour in children, as well as poorer academic
achievement and adjustment to school, according to a review of
research by Otago University’s Children’s Issues
Centre. The review concludes physical punishment is a health
risk for children.(August 2004) More
Surveys show that New Zealanders are slowly changing their attitudes
about physical punishment of children. Children can be guided
to behave well and kept safe without ever having to be hit. Research
shows that harsh physical punishment is dangerous and damaging.
Children cannot wait for the process of change to protect them
over time. More needs to be done.... Epoch/Repeal
paper to government (pdf file, 56KB)
Submissions
Resolution from the Methodist Conference 2000:
That the Methodist Church of New Zealand urges Government to thoroughly review
Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961, and supports Government initiatives for
education programmes that promote non-violent behaviour in the family/whanau.’ More
To view all CASI submissions,
click here
Broadsheet
The Public Questions Committee is concerned over recent promotion
of a video showing how parents can smack their children 'safely'....(Broadsheet
63, June 1998) More
Reports
Resolution to Presbyterian Assembly 2004: That Government be
urged to develop resources to support the education of those
new parents who are most likely to lack the necessary skills
for keeping their children safe'. Full
report.
Media
Statements
Corporal punishment not justified
(1997)
Bible does not condone corporal
punishment (1995)
Resources
1994 Resource
on corporal punishment
Articles
Article on smacking children - attitudes and alternatives. Judith
Thompson in Social Work Now, May 2000.(pdf
file Caution 2MB size)
Also in the same issue Child safety in Indian families - Yvette Ahmad
et al.
Sharon Rickard on disciplining Maori children - Social
Work Now, No.11, December 1998 (pdf file, 229KB)
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