Key findings

Domestic abuse: awareness, understanding and evidence

Echoing many previous studies, this research found that evidence of domestic abuse was often not taken seriously by the courts and other professionals involved in the child contact process.

Gender discrimination: attitudes, stereotypes, myths and behaviours

The testimonies of women in our sample highlighted gender discrimination within the culture and processes of the family courts. Testimonies also showed a culture of disbelief, including negative stereotypes about survivors of domestic abuse.

Discourses of parental alienation

The research revealed disturbing examples where domestic abuse and child abuse were obscured by allegations of parental alienation against the non-abusive parent.

Safeguarding: child abuse and unsafe child contact

The study highlights clear safeguarding gaps around child contact, both for children and non-abusive parents.

Impact and outcomes

The report documents the long-lasting impacts of going through the family court process for survivors and their children. Physical and mental health, finances, family relationships and safety and security were negatively impacted upon.

Human rights implications

The research highlighted a range of potential human rights protection gaps and inconsistencies, negatively impacting on survivors and their children. It also illustrated examples of gaps in knowledge on human rights among family court professionals.