diff --git a/docs/en/changelogs/3.2.0.md b/docs/en/changelogs/3.2.0.md
index 0300a06f4..941e0d089 100644
--- a/docs/en/changelogs/3.2.0.md
+++ b/docs/en/changelogs/3.2.0.md
@@ -3,7 +3,24 @@
 ## Overview
 
  * Minimum PHP version raised to 5.3.3
+ * DataObject::validate() method visibility changed to public
 
 ## Changelog
 
-### Bugfixes
\ No newline at end of file
+### DataObject::validate() method visibility changed to public
+
+The visibility of `DataObject::validate()` has been changed from `protected` to `public`.
+
+Any existing classes that currently set this as `protected` should be changed like in
+this example:
+
+	::php
+	class MyDataClass extends DataObject {
+		...
+		public function validate() {
+			...
+		}
+		...
+	}
+
+### Bugfixes
diff --git a/model/DataObject.php b/model/DataObject.php
index b01621d14..04d06634c 100644
--- a/model/DataObject.php
+++ b/model/DataObject.php
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ class DataObject extends ViewableData implements DataObjectInterface, i18nEntity
 	 * 
 	 * @return A {@link ValidationResult} object
 	 */
-	protected function validate() {
+	public function validate() {
 		$result = ValidationResult::create();
 		$this->extend('validate', $result);
 		return $result;
diff --git a/security/PermissionRoleCode.php b/security/PermissionRoleCode.php
index ffd911839..eac50f061 100644
--- a/security/PermissionRoleCode.php
+++ b/security/PermissionRoleCode.php
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class PermissionRoleCode extends DataObject {
 		"Role" => "PermissionRole",
 	);
 
-	protected function validate() {
+	public function validate() {
 		$result = parent::validate();
 
 		// Check that new code doesn't increase privileges, unless an admin is editing.
diff --git a/tests/model/DataObjectTest.php b/tests/model/DataObjectTest.php
index 7f5688a40..f02b35cb1 100644
--- a/tests/model/DataObjectTest.php
+++ b/tests/model/DataObjectTest.php
@@ -1304,7 +1304,7 @@ class DataObjectTest_ValidatedObject extends DataObject implements TestOnly {
 		'Name' => 'Varchar(50)'
 	);
 	
-	protected function validate() {
+	public function validate() {
 		if(!empty($this->Name)) {
 			return new ValidationResult();
 		} else {