UNICEF NZ supports the right of children to be protected from any form of assault.

UNICEF NZ campaigned in 2007 for the Section 59 amendment of the Crimes Act that gives children the same right to protection as every other citizen.

Under the old legislation, parents could assault children and use a defence of reasonable force for the purposes of correction.

Assaults often involved “instruments of correction” – horse whips, wooden batons, leather belts, wire etc.etc. Children could be beaten, kicked, punched or otherwise assaulted and there was a legal defence for the behaviour.

The amendment to Section 59 removed that defence.

It did not create any new offence. Assaulting children was already an offence but up until the amendment of S.59 it could be defended.

UNICEF also supports the move towards more constructive and effective ways of providing children with the guidance and discipline they need.

Whatever it’s called - smacking, slapping, hitting is an assault.

Many injuries to children begin in the name of “discipline” or “correction” ….hospital staff hear it daily ….”I just wanted to teach him/her a lesson”. 

A “little smack” can escalate into an assault when there is tolerance for using physical discipline.

There is no need to hit children to help them to understand limits and boundaries.

Request a free copy of our publication "Children are Unbeatable" by e-mailing 2helpkids@unicef.org.nz