[Church in Wales] A vigil to mark Universal Children’s Day will focus on the campaign to ban smacking in Wales.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, is supporting the service which will be held on Thursday, November 20, at St John the Baptist City Parish Church, in the centre of Cardiff, at 12.30pm.

Tomorrow is Universal Children’s Day, marking the 25th anniversary of the UN adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The vigil aims to promote respect for children, remember those who have suffered violence and highlight children’s right to equal protection under the law. 

The service is being organised by two charities – the Churches’ Network for Non-Violence and  ’SdimCuro Plant!/Children are Unbeatable! Cymru  - both of which campaign for the  prohibition of all physical punishment of children in Wales, together with support for positive non-violent parenting. It will be led by the Revd Meg Underdown.

In a message of support, the Archbishop said, “Jesus was clear in His teaching that children deserve as least as much respect as anyone else. So just as it unacceptable to hit another adult so it should be unacceptable to smack a child - more so, in fact, because a child is more vulnerable. That does not mean that anything goes as far as bringing up children is concerned – but it does rule out physical punishment. We all have a responsibility for ending the legal and cultural acceptance of this most common form of violence against children.

“As we celebrate this 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child we have an opportunity to commit ourselves to ending legalised violence against children. Children should not have to wait any longer for their right to full respect for their human dignity and to equal protection under the law.”

Chris Dodd, co-ordinator of the Churches’ Network for Non-Violence said,  “Violence against children is incompatible with the core religious principles of compassion, justice, equality and nonviolence and it breaches a child’s fundamental right to respect for human dignity and physical integrity.

“Prohibition of all corporal punishment of children, together with support for positive, non-violent discipline is a key to a more compassionate and peaceful world. Action is needed now to end this common-place violence against children.”