Overturning Napoleon-era rights\, France bans smacking kids

Napoleon allowed it in the 1800s, but smacking your child is no longer allowed in France.

The country's parliament has voted in favour of banning physical punishment.

That brings France into line with 22 of the 28 EU member states that have anti-violence rules against children.

Campaigners have pushed out anti-smacking adverts - like this one - arguing that childen don't learn anything from being physically disciplined.

SOUNDBITE (French) PARLIAMENT MEMBER FROM CENTRIST UNION OF DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS, THIERRY BENOIT, SAYING: "Tonight, we proclaim that violence is not education, it's not an educative element.

French parents are now informed, because it's now inscribed in law." But although the French civil code will now say that parents shouldn't resort to "physical, verbal or psychological violence"... there will be no actual punishment for breaking the law.

The ban reverses laws introduced under Napolean that allowed parents to dicipline their children using corporal punishment.

It started in Sweden in 1966.

Now some 54 countries have introduced similar laws on domestic corporal punishment, according to French data.

French First Lady Brigitte Macron has supported the ban.

But a few conservative and far-right MPs have pushed back - claiming it interferes with families' private lives.

The government will propose measures to educate parents on discipline at home.