Two leading children's charities in Northern Ireland have called for the Stormont Executive to ban smacking children following a historic vote in Wales on Tuesday.
Parents have been banned from physically punishing children under legislation introduced on Monday by the Welsh government.
Tuesday's vote means Wales are now the second country in the UK to outlaw smacking children after Scotland.
The decision reached by the Welsh Assembly on January 28th will come in force from 2022.
It is already against the law in Northern Ireland for teachers, nursery workers and child care workers to smack another person's child.
Opponents to the bill said the ban was a case of the state trying to tell parents how to raise their chilren.
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But the NSPCC believes that the current loophole in the law should be closed leaving everyone clear that physically disciplining a child is as wrong as hitting an adult.
A NSPCC spokesperson said: “The NSPCC has long campaigned for this development, which will bring Wales into line with more than 50 countries around the world, including the Republic of Ireland.
“Wales is the second UK nation to protect children from legally-sanctioned physical punishment, which in turn puts a very stark focus on the lack of equal protection for children in Northern Ireland.
“The NSPCC has long campaigned for this development, which will bring Wales into line with more than 50 countries around the world, including the Republic of Ireland.
“Wales is the second UK nation to protect children from legally-sanctioned physical punishment, which in turn puts a very stark focus on the lack of equal protection for children in Northern Ireland."
Northern Ireland charity, Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) also welcomed Tuesday's development.
Pauline Leeson, Chief Executive of Children in Northern Ireland said: "The introduction of a smacking ban is warmly welcomed which will amend a very archaic law that didn't fully protect the smallest, most venerable members of society - children.
"Northern Ireland is now lagging behind Wales and Scotland and I would ask all politicians to support our call for change."
Adults who want advice on positive parenting or have any concerns about a child can call the NSPCC’s Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
