France 'must pass anti-smacking law', CoE

(ANSA) - Rome, March 4 - France must pass laws that explicitly outlaw smacking children, the Council of Europe said Wednesday.
    Europe's top human rights body said that France's laws on corporal punishment were "not sufficiently clear, binding and specific".
    French law forbids violence against children, but recognises the parents' "right to discipline" children.
    The CoE ruling follows a complaint by a British children's charity against France and six other EU countries. The charity, Approach, says the countries are violating a section of the European Social Charter calling on signatories to protect children.