
An amendment to the bill removing the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’ would be murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif’s legacy, said Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England.
The issue returned to the national spotlight last year after the 10-year-old's father Irfan Sharif was jailed for life for murder in December 2024 after claiming that the abuse he inflicted on his daughter amounted to ‘legal punishment’.
De Souza and her counterparts have issued a joint statement highlighting how children in England and Northern Ireland are the only people in the United Kingdom not to be fully protected in law from assault.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here