Human rights expert calls for ban on smacking

Irish parents should be outlawed from slapping their children, one of Europe's top human rights officials said today.

Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, said a total ban on corporal punishment would send a clear message to parents and educators that such practices were not acceptable.

The Commissioner is today ending a five-day official visit to Ireland examining a range of human rights issues including juvenile justice, migrants, children's and women's rights and the treatment of asylum seekers.

He met with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as well as Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

"Chastisement has no place in the education of a child," Mr Hammarberg said.

"A total ban would send a clear message to parents and educators that a different approach must be found."

Corporal punishment is outlawed in 19 states, with Portugal, The Netherlands and New Zealand introducing the ban this year.

In 2005 an EU committee found Ireland to be in breach of the social charter outlawing such practices.

Although not binding in law, the committee upheld a complaint made in July 2003 by the French human rights watchdog, World Organisation against Torture.

It alleged Ireland was in breach of human rights legislation under the European Social Charter, to which it is a signatory, because it allows the use of physical punishment against children by their parents or other guardians.

But a survey in January by parenting website rollercoaster.ie found two-thirds of Irish parents disagreed slapping should be outlawed.

Meanwhile Mr Hammarberg also welcomed a planned referendum to include the rights of the child in the Constitution.

"It is essential to establish that the principle of the best interest of the child must be a primary consideration in all decision-making affecting the child," he said.

The Commissioner agreed with government plans to close St Patrick's Institution and encouraged further efforts to develop alternatives to prison for young offenders.

Mr Hammarberg's report is expected to be presented in early 2008.

The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent, non-judicial office within the Council of Europe (CoE), formed to promote awareness of and respect for human rights in the 47 member states.

Elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE, the present Commissioner took office in April 2006.