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Scotland has become the first part of the UK to ban hitting children after new legislation came into force.
Changes to the law that provide children the same protection against assault as adults were approved by the Scottish Parliament last year and take effect from Saturday.
Scotland becomes the 58th country to ban corporal punishment after the justifiable assault defense was removed from Scottish law.
It is the first part of the UK to do so, and Wales is expected to follow suit with the introduction of a ban by 2022.
Scottish Green MSP John Finnie, who introduced the changes, said he hoped the ban would help show children that violence is not acceptable.
He said: “As I have progressed in my campaign over the last four years, it has been noticed how many people believed that hitting a child was already prohibited.
“I am pleased that this is now the case.”
Children’s Minister Maree Todd said: “I am very pleased that Scotland has become the first part of the UK to legislate to ensure that children, without exception, have the same protection against assault as adults.
“This outdated defense has no place in modern Scotland. It can never be reasonable to hit a child. “
Joanna Barrett, Policy and Public Affairs Officer for NSPCC Scotland, said: “This new law finally gives children in Scotland the rightful protection against assault and the same safeguards as adults.
“By making this common sense move to shed the antiquated defense of ‘justifiable assault’, we will join with more than 50 countries around the world in taking action to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
“This law makes it clear that corporal punishment should no longer be a part of childhood in Scotland and marks a momentous step towards making it a country where children’s rights are truly recognized, respected and fulfilled.”
Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said he was “delighted” with the change to the law.
He said: “The abolition of this Victorian-sounding legal defense is long overdue.
“It is backed by countless studies and experts, from the commissioner for children to police officers, social workers, nurses, and charities for children and parents.
“Send a clear message about what kind of country we aspire to be. After challenging the UN for years over this, the Scottish government must now stop ignoring other international human rights minima, such as setting the age of criminal responsibility at 14 years. “
But campaign group Be Reasonable Scotland, which opposed the legislation, warned that “even the slightest physical discipline will be treated as abuse” and could lead to parents being prosecuted.
A spokesperson for the group said: “In the years to come, loving parents who have not had contact with authorities before and who pose no risk to their children will face stressful interventions, blacklists in police databases and even criminal records for beatings .
“Most Scots see this as an injustice, not a positive change.”
