'Global initiative' urges world leaders to beat parents into submission

7 April 2000

Yet another publicity stunt has been planned for next Tuesday (10 April) as part of the relentless campaign of a relatively small group of activists to impose their own unproven parenting style on the rest of the world. The so-called "New global initiative to end all corporal punishment of children" is due to be launched during the current session of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, by Peter Newell, co-ordinator of the lobby group EPOCH (End Physical Punishment of Children).

The initiative may well have the support of UNICEF, members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and the childrens rights lobby, but it certainly doesn't have the support of the overwhelming majority of parents.

A spokesman for Families First commented, "They may call it a new initiative, but in reality it has all the marks of yet another Peter Newell crusade aimed at undermining parents. Newell and his army of bureaucrats seem to think only in terms of states and children. Parents and families are alien to their entire approach. One cannot help wondering what these people think parents are for.

"If Mr Newell and his supporters want to bring up their own children without corporal discipline, that is a matter for them. If they want to persuade others to adopt a similar parenting style, they are free to do so. But the fact they are so determined to impose their views on the entire population of the world by force of law demonstrates the weakness of their position. The simple truth is that a physical sanction, wisely used, may be the kindest and most effective way of correcting certain types of misbehaviour. A well-timed smack can prevent a little disobedience from growing into a fully-fledged tantrum or a little spitefulness developing into a major battle zone.

"What Newell and his colleagues are advocating has the effect of setting children against their parents and dividing families. Common sense would go right out of the window. If a father smacked his child, no matter how mildly, he could end up in court and the child could be forced to give evidence, in all likelihood against his or her will. The implications of what they are trying to achieve have simply not been thought through."

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