“We welcome the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday supporting the repeal of Section 59. Save the Children strongly supports this position, which is essential to ensure that children have the same rights as adults.

“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children, ratified by the Zealand Government, clearly states that children have a right to be protected from violence and abuse. Physically punishing a child is a violation of a child’s right to live free from violence and abuse.

“As signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the New Zealand Government also has an obligation to uphold the Convention.

“Recent tragedies like Coral Burrow’s death and the UNICEF report released on Friday, which shows New Zealand has the third-worst rate of death by child abuse and murder out of 27 OECD countries, make it even more imperative that legislation is changed, as part of an overall strategy to make New Zealand a safe place for all children.

“We call on the government to bring forward their review of physical punishment laws relating to children, and to give greater urgency to implementing it’s positive parenting initiatives."

ENDS
For more information contact Save the Children on 04 385 6847.