Westminster vigil before Commons
“smacking” vote
Members of local churches are invited to
joint a vigil at Westminster, organised by the Churches’ Network for
Non-Violence, on Tuesday 7 October, the eve of a House of Commons
vote on equal protection from assault for children. The vigil will
begin in St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster at 8.15pm, where a
muffled bell will toll to remember all children who have suffered
violence at the hands of adults. It will continue by candlelight, in
Parliament Square. Members of local United Reformed churches have
already been invited to write to their MP to support a vote that
would outlaw “smacking”, and other forms of physical punishment of
children. The URC has supported the work of the Churches’ Network
for Non-Violence and the Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance, which is
also involved in the vigil. More information from
www.churchesfornon-violence.org
and
www.childrenareunbeatable.org.uk
.
