Saturday, November 05, 2011

Sensationalism?

Papers full of headlines like "Fathers denied right to see children" following the publication of a report into family justice.  So what's the story?  The report was generally expected to say that, following divorce, the child or children of the marriage should have the legal right to a "meaningful relationship with both parents", but in the event, the report does not include that recommendation.  So what about that headline?  Firstly, you can hardly be said to be"denied" a right which you've never had, and secondly, as regards custody and access matters, the report simply leaves things as they are.  Fathers - or for that matter any other family members - are no better or worse off than they were before.  The welfare of the child remains paramount, as it was and should be.

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