Parents slapping children ‘in breach of human rights’

PARENTS and guardians who slap their children are breaching their youngsters’ human rights, a hearing in Europe has decided.

The European Committee on Social Rights ruled Ireland was in violation of human rights protections by not bringing in laws to expressly outlaw all physical punishment of children.

The Strasbourg-based committee will demand the Government take action by introducing legislation which would govern the behaviour of parents and guardians both in public and in their own homes. The Department of Justice is examining the ruling.