Courts send children to live with violent parents
Abused children's needs ignored - researchers
- Children in domestic violence "ignored"- Report commissioned by Attorney General
COURTS are delivering children to their abusers and ignoring or disbelieving claims of domestic violence.
Australian academics have found that children are sent to live with abusive parents because lawyers and judges are emphasising shared parenting, at the expense of the child's safety.
The investigation also found:
* Professionals in the family law system often do not believe allegations of domestic violence or counsel the innocent parent not to mention it for fear of sounding vindictive and of risking contact with their children.
* After divorce or separation, four in 10 children are scared to spend time with the father and almost one in 10 does not feel safe with the mother.
The Federal Attorney-General's Department commissioned the report as part of a review of 2006 changes to the Family Law Act.
