My sister has been living a nightmare for over a year. A victim of perpetual harassment from her co-parent, her life has been reduced to constant fear and distress. The harassment never ceases, but rather escalates: from an incessant flurry of texts and calls to personal defamation, stalking, and even threats of physical harm. Despite her peace being disrupted every single day, the law remains a silent bystander.

There seems to be a glaring loophole in our legal system that emboldens harassers and fails to protect victims of such abuses. Harassment and emotional abuse should not be exceptions to justice merely because of shared parenthood. No individual should be allowed to wield parenthood as a means to torment another while walking free, entirely devoid of any accountability.

Unfortunately, my sister's experience is not an isolated one. Harassment by one parent to another, especially in separated or divorced couples, is a global problem. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2015). It's high time we incorporate modern forms of harassment such as texting, emailing, stalking, and verbal abuse, into legal definitions of domestic violence, entailing proper legal consequences for the abusers.

Our laws must reflect the real dangers and violations that come with being a victim of continual harassment; the fear, strain, and even potential physical violence. Inaction in such cases is equivalent to protecting abusers.

We call on lawmakers to amend the existing laws and make it mandatory for an order of protection to be placed against co-parents who engage in abusive and harassing behavior. This is a plea for justice, for my sister, and countless others subjugated to such dehumanizing treatment. Stand with us in urging the authorities to ensure legal protection for victims of co-parent harassment and abuse. Please, sign this petition.