FRANCE-SMACKING BAN Council of Europe set to rebuke France for failing to ban smacking of children

Record ID: 565876

  • Title: FRANCE-SMACKING BAN Council of Europe set to rebuke France for failing to ban smacking of children
  • Date: 3rd March 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 03, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SIGN READING (French) "NATIONAL ASSEMBLY" CHILDREN WALKING ON PARIS STREET (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FATHER FRANZ FARGEOT SAYING: "Myself I prefer to keep it, to maintain it active. We don't smack regularly but when it's really needed I am OK to give them a light one." WOMEN PUSHING TROLLEY IN A PARIS GARDEN (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH) FRENCH MOTHER GWENAELLE BARRAUD SAYING: "Sometimes when you argue with your child, some look at us in a weird way. Clearly I can tell you that it makes one uncomfortable." WOMAN PUSHING TROLLEY (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH) FRENCH MOTHER ANOUCK VEAUX SAYING: "(I am) rather against because one would not smack an adult and for me a child doesn't deserve it. Discussing seems better to me to resolve problems than smacking." CHILDREN ON PARIS STREET WOMEN PUSHING TROLLEY
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6X5D9SMX1OPV5BFX8CYR8MPBV
  • Story Text: The Council of Europe is set to rule on Wednesday (March 4) that France did not implement a clear and sufficient ban on smacking children after a British charity "Approach" seeking to ban smacking all over the world filed a complaint about French legislation.
    The European watchdog says that French legislation breaches the article 17 of the European Social Charter whose member states said they would protect children and teenagers against "negligence, violence and exploitation".
    The council's ruling is not binding but is highly symbolic as the European watchdog expects France to modify its legislation.
    For defenders of the right, a light smack is not mistreatment.
    Franz Fargeot a father of two said that giving a light one when necessary is always useful.
    "Myself I prefer to keep it, to maintain it active. We don't smack regularly but when it's really needed I am OK to give them a light one," Franz Fargeot said.
    Others admitted giving smacks to their children from time to time adding they are uncomfortable because of the reproachful look of others when they slap their children.
    "Sometimes when you argue with your child, some look at us in a weird way. Clearly I can tell you that it makes one uncomfortable," said Gwenaelle Barraud a mother of two.
    For others, a firm slap is seen as useless sanction that nor adults neither children deserve.
    Talking sounds an easiest way to resolve problems said another mother.
    "(I am) rather against because one would not smack an adult and for me a child doesn't deserve it. Discussing seems better to me to resolve problems than smacking," Anouck Veaux said.
    France currently has no law specifically banning the smacking of children, and the punishment has been for long an issue that divides the country.
    Some specialists consider that banning smacking from French legislation could undermine the authority of parents at a time when rules are needed.
    27 countries out of the 47 member states of the council of Europe have already have banned the smacking of children and the Council expects 20 left to change their legislation.
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