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'Cinderella' emotional cruelty law considered 'Cinderella' emotional cruelty law considered
(about 3 hours later)
Laws on cruelty to children may be altered to increase the penalty for emotional abuse, campaigners say. Child neglect laws in England and Wales may be changed to make "emotional cruelty" a crime for the first time, the Daily Telegraph has reported.
The Ministry of Justice said it was considering changing the law in England and Wales. It follows a campaign for a "Cinderella Law" led by the charity Action for Children, which says the UK lags behind other countries.
It follows a campaign for a "Cinderella Law" led by the charity Action for Children which says the UK lags behind other countries. Its chief executive said the move would be a "monumental step forward".
Its chief executive says such a change would be a "monumental step forward for thousands of children". The Ministry of Justice said it was "considering ways the law can support" protecting children from harm.
Robert Buckland MP, who backs the campaign, says the current law focuses on the physical effects of abuse only. Robert Buckland MP, who backs the campaign, said the current law focused on the physical effects of abuse only.
"Emotional neglect, by contrast, which modern science now shows can be equally as destructive to a child's wellbeing as physical abuse, is excluded from the law," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "Emotional neglect, by contrast, which modern science now shows can be equally as destructive to a child's wellbeing as physical abuse, is excluded from the law," he wrote in the Telegraph.
'Constantly humiliated''Constantly humiliated'
Mr Buckland, Conservative MP for Swindon South, paid tribute to Action for Children's campaign to reform the law.Mr Buckland, Conservative MP for Swindon South, paid tribute to Action for Children's campaign to reform the law.
The charity's chief executive, Sir Tony Hawkhead, said it was a "monumental step forward for thousands of children".The charity's chief executive, Sir Tony Hawkhead, said it was a "monumental step forward for thousands of children".
"I've met children who have been scapegoated in their families, constantly humiliated and made to feel unloved," he added."I've met children who have been scapegoated in their families, constantly humiliated and made to feel unloved," he added.
"The impact is devastating and can lead to life-long mental health problems and, in some cases, suicide.""The impact is devastating and can lead to life-long mental health problems and, in some cases, suicide."
The campaign was also backed by Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams, who introduced a private member's bill on the issue last year, the late Labour MP Paul Goggins and Baroness Butler-Sloss, a former judge who was president of the family division of the High Court.The campaign was also backed by Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams, who introduced a private member's bill on the issue last year, the late Labour MP Paul Goggins and Baroness Butler-Sloss, a former judge who was president of the family division of the High Court.
The Children and Young Persons Act of 1933 provides for the punishment of a person who treats a child "in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health (including injury to or loss of sight, or hearing, or limb, or organ of the body, and any mental derangement)".The Children and Young Persons Act of 1933 provides for the punishment of a person who treats a child "in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health (including injury to or loss of sight, or hearing, or limb, or organ of the body, and any mental derangement)".
Mr Williams' bill would add a further category of harm for which the perpetrator could be punished: impairment of "physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development". Mr Williams's bill would add a further category of harm for which the perpetrator could be punished: impairment of "physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development".
The Telegraph said the proposal to make emotional cruelty a crime would be included in the Queen's Speech in June.
'Sad truth'
Child neglect was made a punishable offence by the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1868.Child neglect was made a punishable offence by the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1868.
"Not too many years after the Brothers Grimm popularised the story of Cinderella, the offence of child neglect was introduced," Mr Buckland said."Not too many years after the Brothers Grimm popularised the story of Cinderella, the offence of child neglect was introduced," Mr Buckland said.
"The sad truth is that, until now, the Wicked Stepmother would have got away scot-free.""The sad truth is that, until now, the Wicked Stepmother would have got away scot-free."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The government believes protecting children from harm is fundamental and that child cruelty is an abhorrent crime which should be punished. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The government believes protecting children from harm is fundamental and that child cruelty is an abhorrent crime which should be punished.
"Every child should be able to grow up in a safe environment - we are considering ways the law can support this.""Every child should be able to grow up in a safe environment - we are considering ways the law can support this."