Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care
21 March 2025 marked the third anniversary of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 coming into force. This provided an important opportunity to reflect on the journey so far and the progress made in implementing this landmark legislation.
The Act places a duty on Welsh Ministers to conduct post-implementation reviews three and five years after it came into force. I am pleased to lay before the Senedd and publish today our Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020: Evidence and Data Synthesis which provides our three-year review.
The review draws on a diverse range of data and research sources to provide a robust and comprehensive understanding of the implementation of the Act across Wales.
The findings of the review are encouraging. They show that implementation is progressing well and largely as intended, supporting the core aim of upholding children’s rights while promoting an educational and preventative approach that avoids criminalising parents. Wales has taken a significant and progressive step in protecting children’s rights, and the shift away from physical punishment is increasingly reflected in public attitudes, professional practices, and service delivery.
The review identifies some areas where further work would be beneficial. Looking ahead to the five-year review, we will be considering where we can take some additional action on further research, workforce support, and data consistency to strengthen our approach.
This review reflects the commitment of professionals and families across Wales to place children’s rights at the heart of policy, practice and parenting.