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Peter Newell: we must eliminate legalised violence

Peter NEWELL of the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of children has campaigned for over a decade to make it illegal to hit or smack children in the home.

05.07.2005

Question: Why is this consultation important to you?

Peter Newell: If you are trying to eliminate violence, you have to eliminate the legalised violence. In the Council of Europe area only 16 countries have banned corporal punishment – that means that two thirds of countries still have it. What we want to see is a corporal punishment free zone. Fortunately, Europe has a strong human rights basis, and is more advanced than other regions, a lot of work has already been done by the Council of Europe and the Court of Human Rights, but much remains to be done.

Question: Working with the children themselves is fundamental to your philosophy. What do they say about it?

Peter Newell : Not only in Europe but in every other region the children have said firmly that they are upset by violence that it hurts not only on the outside, but also on the inside. They find it upsetting that it is still legal and socially approved. They want to see a clear law that stops their parents, teachers or carers beating them, and they want to see more communication and punishments that fit with the misdeed. So, for example, if they go out on a dangerous road with their bike, the bike should be taken away for a week.

Question: What do you think will change as a result of this conference?

Peter Newell : I am really pleased to see that in this region there is a real momentum for change. More and more countries are moving towards laws that abolish corporal punishment, and more and more people are finding this sort of violence unacceptable. This sort of conference is a force for change particularly since the young people are active participants, and I feel it can make a real difference.