Achieving law reform to prohibit corporal punishment of children marks a turning point in a state’s relationship
with its youngest citizens. It signals a recognition of children as human beings, respect for their rights, a
commitment to fostering their growth and development in a violence-free environment and a vision of a society
based on the premise that conflict can be resolved peacefully. Yet which of us would not claim that we already hold
such views? Why is it that prohibiting corporal punishment can be such a struggle? Perhaps it is because promoting
law reform for prohibition also marks a turning point in our relationship with ourselves. It confronts us with
our personal experiences of being hit and hurt as we were growing up, of our past and present feelings about our
parents and communities; the beliefs we have developed to rationalise our life experiences and what we see around
us; our parenting, and physically punishing our own children; our religious views. But how would progress be
made in any aspect of our lives if we allowed our past and present to prevent us changing things now and for the
future?