Scotland has become the first part of the United Kingdom to outlaw the physical punishment of children under 16.
The new law is designed to give children the same protection from assaults as adults.
Men Do Complain will continue to campaign for children to be protected from non-therapeutic circumcision. It is a practice that looks increasingly inappropriate in the light of this new law.
The full story on the BBC News gives us this quote from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
“This law sets out in clear terms that physical punishment should no longer be part of childhood in Scotland and it marks a momentous step in making it a country where children’s rights are truly recognised, respected and fulfilled.”
Children’s rights.
We would point to the major elements of our society’s codes of conduct that should protect children from non-therapeutic circumcision.
The Human Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion which is a qualified right in that one individual cannot override another’s rights; even if that other is a child.
The criminal law protects us from physical abuse even a slap is considered as an assault.
Medical ethics should also protect children from non-therapeutic circumcision. All the elegant dancing on the head of a pin by the medical authorities to allow parents to wound their children beggars belief see this excellent talk by Dr Antony Lempert.