We wanted to bring to your attention an Open Letter issued by the NSPCC, calling for children in Northern Ireland to be given equal protection under the law.

Currently, the legal defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’ means that physical punishment of children can still be justified, leaving children with less protection from harm than adults. As highlighted in the NSPCC’s open letter attached, there is clear evidence that physical punishment can negatively impact children’s wellbeing, relationships, and long-term outcomes, and increase the risk of further harm.

Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have already introduced legislation to ensure equal protection for children, and this campaign is urging Northern Ireland to follow suit by supporting the equal protection amendment to the Justice Bill.

We would strongly encourage your organisation to:

• Sign the open letter in support of this campaign: https://forms.office.com/e/PK2KSBsGHV
• Share the letter across your networks to help amplify the message and encourage more signatories.

By supporting this campaign, we can collectively advocate for a safer and more protective environment for all children.