The UK signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 11 years ago, but according to the report by a committee of international child welfare experts, it is failing to protect children from violence and exploitation.

The document said the government should outlaw all corporal punishment in the family.

But the minister for young people, John Denham, says parents should be allowed to smack their children.

He said the government was "proud" of its record of achievement for UK children.

Should smacking be banned or are parents entitled to smack their children? Is the UK failing to protect its young people?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your reaction

Many of today's social ills are created by rogue children who have not been properly disciplined

Craig Lewell, England

Smacking allows parents to discipline their children. Many of today's social ills are created by rogue children who have not been properly disciplined. Words alone can't really be considered an effective form of punishment as you eventually get to the point where the children simply ignore their parent's words. If a tiny bit of pain is required to instil our children with a sense of right and wrong and respect for their elders, then so be it.
Craig Lewell, England

In countries where smacking is banned, parents still smack, so it just teaches kids that laws are there to be broken. I'm a parent of an 8 year old boy and 5 year old girl. About once a month the boy gets a smack on the hand, about twice a year for the girl. Sometimes mental torture works - being sent to room. Most times reasoning works with a cuddle.
Fred, UK

Violence breeds violence

Sarah, USA

I don't believe that smacking should have a place in family life. There are other more peaceful solutions that we as parents can find. Violence breeds violence, and make no mistake, even the gentlest of smacks is an act of violence.
Sarah, USA

Sarah from the USA is utterly wrong. A gentle smack is not an act of violence. It is this kind of fatuous argument which has brought us to where we are today. I have two children. I love them. I occasionally smack them. I am not a child beater and no amount of politically correct rhetoric will ever make me one.
Adrian M Lee, England

The call for a ban on smacking is irrelevant. A smack is common assault and as such can be prosecuted through the courts.
Paul, England

The UN is an unelected body, this issue is none of their business. There are already UK laws in place to deal with the excessive beating of a child.
Chas, UK

The thing that should be banned is unelected bureaucrats meddling in the affairs of other countries.
Guy Hammond, England

I think she has the patience of a saint

Josephine, UK

How far is this really going to go? My mother works in childcare and has recently been told she mustn't call the children in her care "naughty". They must instead be told to "take a time out". She doesn't smack the children in her care and having seen the behaviour of some of them, I think she has the patience of a saint. Now she can't even tell them off!
Josephine, UK

Bringing up happy children requires almost all your time when they are awake, and if you are too tired, impatient or overworked to give them the attention they need, smacking must seem a very convenient short cut to authority, but really it is nothing more than laziness and bullying.
Phil Daniels, Mexico

Should superiors in the workplace be allowed to smack the staff when they misbehave? The main difference is that children are smaller and therefore unable to hit back or sue. Where do you draw the line?
John R, England

When the UN can manage the world without violence of any kind we shall be more inclined to listen to its pontifications about childcare.
David, UK

I was never smacked as a child. There was no need as my parents explained to me what I had done wrong so that I knew not to do it again.
Liz, UK

Reasoning with children has its place

Dennis, UK

My wife and I have brought up four children and have smacked them all at different stages. Reasoning with children has its place, but there are times when children need punishment and clear boundaries so that they learn obedience and respect. This is for their own good as well as for others around them. As a Christian I believe careful use of smacking is the right way to enforce loving discipline. All four of our children have good healthy attitudes to life and others as a result!
Dennis, UK

There's certainly a time and place for smacking children. I am, however, horrified at the number of young parents who stand outdoors screaming at their little, terrified children, before lifting them up and smacking them. No child deserves this kind of mental and physical torture.
John Caliber, UK

I'm totally against any form of violence when it comes to children. Unfortunately there are practical implications that make the implementation of laws that ban smacking difficult. What is needed alongside laws is educational campaigns to inform parents of the alternative approach they can follow in raising their children. Make no mistake, you can't smack your children, even in the lightest form, and not expect them to reproduce such aggression when they grow up.
Greg, Scotland

If I smacked an adult on the street I would be charged with ABH!

Viki, Wales

How can a parent tell a child that it is wrong to hit out when they do it themselves to the child? If I smacked an adult on the street I would be charged with ABH! Many frequently smacked children will end up as playground bullies...I know as I was one!
Viki, Wales

To smack a child is not inherently wrong - it only becomes so if the parent is lashing out in anger rather than it being done in a controlled manner to discipline the child. If done correctly, with plenty of forewarning, often just the threat alone is enough and the child will stop whatever they were doing.
Kirstine, Scotland

I was smacked as a child, for disobeying, stealing, swearing or bad manners. What did it teach me? Obey when asked, don't steal, don't swear in front of adults and respect older people. I will smack my kids if they deserve it even if it is illegal. Let the law try and stop me.
Kevin, UK

As usual the common sense variety of parenting is going to be held hostage to the abusers

Susan, UK

Smacking ought to be a gentle tap as a reminder to recalcitrant children that there are consequences for unsocial behaviour. Unfortunately some parents stretch that into a form of physical abuse. As usual the common sense variety of parenting is going to be held hostage to the abusers. Hopefully the UK government will hold out against the liberal do-gooders at the UN.
Susan, UK

A little smack never did me any harm. When I look back it has done me more good than anything else. No child will stop doing anything we adults deem as dangerous just by raising your voice. A little smack and a raised voice will register a lot more when you are trying to get an important message across.
Darren, UK

I was a monster when I was a kid and deserved a good slap when I got one. If this kind of law is passed, will we have kids taking their parents to court because they got a slap when they were naughty? I'm glad my parents let me know what was right and wrong, because trying to reason with me when I was a kid would not have worked!
Faith, UK

As a parent-to-be I certainly oppose the UN trying to stop me creating boundaries my children could develop in

Richard, UK

Corporal punishment was banned in schools, now parents are worried about smacking children in public for fear of reactions. Does nobody link this to the massive rise in juvenile crime? The ability of a parent to smack or a school to cane worked as a deterrent more than it was ever used. As a parent-to-be I certainly oppose the UN trying to stop me creating boundaries my children could develop in.
Richard, UK

In my mind there is a definite correlation between recent laws on non-smacking and the misbehaviour of our youth. There is an argument about being able to smack children, but not adults; are we confusing disciplining our own offspring with assaulting adults? Ridiculous. What we need to do is define the difference between 'battering' and a smack, then to allow parents to make sensible judgement.
Eileen, UK

We need discipline. What you are trying to ban is the abuse side of things but this also impedes parents showing their children the discipline they need. Soon we will have a country of Phil and Grant Mitchells - where everyone takes the law into their own hands. I remember seeing kids at school getting the cane, ruler or the pump. Bring back those days and I am sure you would see a dramatic change in how children act.
Kelly Withers, Walsall, UK

If you are smacking your child every day or even every week you are getting it wrong

Jayne, UK

I think smacking is something that should be frowned upon, but cannot be banned as there are the odd occasions where a smack might work - for example to stop a child doing a dangerous thing. But it should be frowned upon - if you are smacking your child every day or even every week you are getting it wrong. And no very young child or baby should ever be smacked - they don't even know what naughty is.
Jayne, UK

As a father to a child of 18 months, most of the incidents of smacking that I have witnessed have seemed to display an absence of self control on the parent's part. That is, the perceived offence by the child has seemed rather trivial when compared to the punishment metered out. However, smacking may be the only alternative in some situations for example where the child is putting its life in real danger, say by playing around when crossing the road, and therefore I cannot advocate a total ban.
Martin, UK

I was smacked as a child and do not think I have suffered any ill effects

Jenny, UK

I see no great problem with smacking, although it should not be widely encouraged. I was smacked as a child (very occasionally) and do not think I have suffered any ill effects. However, smacking should not be used as a substitute for explaining (to children old enough to understand) why they shouldn't do what they've done. There are other punishments available, such as withholding treats, that do not raise such complications as smacking.
Jenny, UK

I have no children of my own yet, I can only comment on my upbringing, where I was taught respect for people and property through verbal and physical discipline. This has made me into a well rounded individual. Kids today are heavily influenced by advertising and all forms of media and this allows them to think they are better than everyone else. I strongly believe physical punishment should be allowed at home and in schools as long as it is used in reasonable circumstances.
Chris, UK

I have two children and I will always discipline them when it is needed

Jason, Manchester, England

There are too many children who commit crimes, then do not get prosecuted as they are too young. Now the UN wants to take away the only form of discipline left to parents. I have two children and I will always discipline them when it is needed, and the UN poking their unwanted noses in will not stop that.
Jason, Manchester, England

Can I ask a favour, can anyone stating an opinion here please state whether they have brought any children up or not? I reckon that would help to qualify any advice or opinion given.
Paul, UK

For Paul, I have brought up children, but never smacked them where there was no need. My wife had already dealt with them. I got the odd clip on more than one occasion and I have not suffered for it.
John, UK

There's a difference between smacking and beating and all sane people know it

Lynda, UK

There's a difference between smacking and beating and all sane people know it. Those who don't realise the difference are more than likely guilty of beating. This goes further than smacking though - parents these days are guilty of far worse - such as refusing to take responsibility for their offspring and blaming others for their own failings.
Lynda, UK

Small children don't understand reasoning - they do understand a wee smack. Keeps them from doing dangerous things like running out onto the road and teaches them to behave. It never did anyone any harm - in fact I'd say it probably does a lot of good!
Gemma, Northern Ireland