The report begins with the following quote……………“Domestic violence is a 50/50 thing.” “It’s not like you were beaten.” “Maybe one day you’ll be able to forget what happened.”

Athena Stavrou then goes onto state “These are just some of the shocking comments that vulnerable women say they have been forced to face in court – from the judges tasked with deciding their families’ futures.

‘The system is abusing them’

A 2020 report published by the Ministry of Justice found that the courts were putting domestic abuse victims and their children at risk of additional harm yet little has been changed since.

Family court cases, which often involve parental disputes concerning the upbringing of children, are anonymised and closed to the public, placing a shroud of secrecy around proceedings. But campaigners say this is also leading to a lack of accountability.

Solicitor Rachel Horman-Brown, who has worked within the family courts for 30 years, said domestic abuse victims face a “lottery” when it comes to who hears their case.

In my own work as a McKenzie Friend I am often disconcerted and alarmed at magistrates and district judges’ attitudes and assumptions about women and their children. They sit in a position of great power, with no scrutiny, with eyes wide open but see nothing. Despite recent legislation around coercive control and post separation abuse there is little or no understanding of the impact this has on women and their children.

I have heard judges say “I just want to knock your heads together to help you see sense.” I have witnessed a judge say that he was tired and fed up with these “sorts of cases coming to court.” Comments such as “you need to trust him” “You are just trying to stop this father seeing his son” (without any factual evidence.) But I think an underestimated impact on justice and safety for women and their children is the backtrack to all this – its a lack of acknowledgement of women’s experiences of domestic abuse/coercive control and an undermining of its lifelong impact and trauma. Children are sacrificed to the sacred belief that abusive fathers should have contact with their father no matter what. I can’t remember the last time a fact finding hearing was awarded to a victim of domestic abuse that I have supported.

There is an amazing organisation called the TRANSPARENCY PROJECT, that is making progress in determining issues of, as it says on the tin – the lack of transparency in the family courts.

The Transparency Project aims to promote the transparency of Family Court proceedings in England and Wales through providing straightforward, accurate and accessible information for litigants and the wider public. Please go to their website and offer your support. The transparency project is a charity but welcomes any donations that you can afford to help them.

https://transparencyproject.org.uk

Here at Women’s McKenzie Friend we have the knowledge and experience of the legal processes and can help you navigate the family court. We will attend court with you on the day as well as helping to prepare you for your case.

“CHILD ARRANGEMENTS IS A WOMENS ISSUE.”

We cover the whole of London and can support you in the Central London Family Court, West London Family Court and East London Family Court with child arrangements and contact. Please send us an email at info@womensmckenziefriend.com