The Welsh government has this week brought in a new law making it illegal to physically punish a child in Wales.

The new law will see Wales join more than 60 countries around the world in ending the physical punishment of children.

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 came into effect on Monday (March 21) and will see anyone who physically punishes a child through smacking, hitting slapping, shaking or other physical assault, risk being arrested and charged with assault.

This law will apply to everyone in Wales, including visitors, and removes a 160-year-old legal defence for parents of reasonable punishment and provides children the same protection from assault as adults.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “I am delighted the physical punishment of children is now illegal in Wales. This is a historic achievement for children and their rights.

“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child makes it clear that children have the right to be protected from harm and from being hurt and this includes physical punishment. That right is now enshrined in Welsh law. No more grey areas. No more ‘defence of reasonable punishment.’ That is all in the past. There is no place for physical punishment in a modern Wales.”

Following the announcement of the new law, Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “It is time that children in Wales were given the same protection from physical punishment as adults, bringing us in line with several countries across the world by giving children equal protection in law.

“We will continue to work with Welsh Government to ensure that education and guidance is provided to parents.”

Prof Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, coinciding with the change in the law on Monday to give children equal protection from physical punishment said: “I’m delighted today to wake up in a nation that formally rejects the physical punishment of a child.

‘‘Children’s rights, to safety, health, and to reach their full potential, have clear and unambiguous precedence and protection today.

“The change brings Wales in line with over 60 countries worldwide who have already strengthened the law for children, and reflects a cultural change that has accelerated in recent years.

‘‘As adults, we do not accept physical violence in any part of our lives, and as a nation we are clear today that we do not accept it in our children’s lives either.

“I take tremendous pride that this landmark piece of legislation was achieved by working in partnership.

‘‘It’s been such a delight to see public services in Wales, from health to police, from senior religious leaders to the voluntary sector working as one on this.

“For me personally, I’ve campaigned for this for years and committed to achieving this change during my time as Children’s Commissioner for Wales.

‘‘Like lots of major changes it’s taken some time to get over the line but I’m very content that as I step down from my post next month, Wales has finally prioritised children’s rights in what was, until today, an area where they were not treated as equals.”