Protect victims of Domestic Abuse when considering Child contact orders

The Issue

I was a Child victim over 30 years ago and too afraid to speak out against the abuse within my family and when I did find the courage in later life CPS decided against pursuing. I know children and adult victims who are speaking out today but are still being failed by the very services that are there to protect and understand them and again as a Child making disclosures CPS decided against listening to their voices. Better understanding,training and solid guidelines by all professionals who are dealing with Contact cases in and out of court are needed. If a child victim has been brave enough to speak out about abuse whilst in contact with absent parent they should be listened to but Heard. Don't then put the victim of Domestic Abuse in a compromising position where they are Forced to put the child/children back into unsupervised contact with the very perpetrator that once abused them and is now abusing their child/children. By putting a victim of Domestic Abuse in danger again through contact orders then gives the perpetrator back the 'CONTROL'. The Law should not be about keeping the 'Family Unit' together but be held accountable for their ongoing ignorance of victims of Domestic Abuse. Please sign my petition to get all professionals, Including the Judges on child contact cases to understand the 'Cycle of Abuse' when making a decision of Unsupervised contact with a perpetrator. At the moment not all Judges who are working within the Family courts have an understanding of Child Protection or Domestic Abuse and unfortunately are left to be guided by Cafcass or Social Workers that also have limited knowledge of the 'Cycle of Abuse'. Until we work together to protect and fully understand our children of today then unfortunately we have little or no chance to help our children become the 'Fully Grown' responsible Adult of the future. We need to help and be part of 'Breaking The Chain'.

avatar of the starter
Dawn PartonPetition StarterI am passionate about protecting a child and giving them a voice. We no longer live in an Age where children 'should be seen and not heard'
This petition had 1,161 supporters

The Issue

I was a Child victim over 30 years ago and too afraid to speak out against the abuse within my family and when I did find the courage in later life CPS decided against pursuing. I know children and adult victims who are speaking out today but are still being failed by the very services that are there to protect and understand them and again as a Child making disclosures CPS decided against listening to their voices. Better understanding,training and solid guidelines by all professionals who are dealing with Contact cases in and out of court are needed. If a child victim has been brave enough to speak out about abuse whilst in contact with absent parent they should be listened to but Heard. Don't then put the victim of Domestic Abuse in a compromising position where they are Forced to put the child/children back into unsupervised contact with the very perpetrator that once abused them and is now abusing their child/children. By putting a victim of Domestic Abuse in danger again through contact orders then gives the perpetrator back the 'CONTROL'. The Law should not be about keeping the 'Family Unit' together but be held accountable for their ongoing ignorance of victims of Domestic Abuse. Please sign my petition to get all professionals, Including the Judges on child contact cases to understand the 'Cycle of Abuse' when making a decision of Unsupervised contact with a perpetrator. At the moment not all Judges who are working within the Family courts have an understanding of Child Protection or Domestic Abuse and unfortunately are left to be guided by Cafcass or Social Workers that also have limited knowledge of the 'Cycle of Abuse'. Until we work together to protect and fully understand our children of today then unfortunately we have little or no chance to help our children become the 'Fully Grown' responsible Adult of the future. We need to help and be part of 'Breaking The Chain'.

avatar of the starter
Dawn PartonPetition StarterI am passionate about protecting a child and giving them a voice. We no longer live in an Age where children 'should be seen and not heard'

The Decision Makers

David Cameron
David Cameron
Prime Minister
Edward Timpson, Parliament, CPS,David Cameron
Edward Timpson, Parliament, CPS,David Cameron
MP
Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
London

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Petition created on 3 September 2014