Our daughter, who has resided with us since turning 2 and is now aged 10, was abruptly taken from her school by her biological mother and hasn't been returned. As a father who has had the daily care and upbringing of my daughter, it is a heart-rending situation that put into sharp focus the present inadequacies of the law regarding Parental Responsibility (PR). Currently, PR allows a non-resident parent to take their child, regardless of the duration of residency with the other parent, without fearing legal sanctions — a situation that is gravely unfair and potentially harmful for the child.

Research concludes that stable living environments positively impact children's mental and emotional health, which becomes tough to maintain when the non-residential parent can snatch away the child abruptly (Child Welfare Information Gateway). Therefore, this unfairness is not just about custody but about children's welfare and well-being too.

We must ensure that parents who have had a child reside with them for over 5 years gain more PR rights than the non-resident parent. This change is not just for our daughter, but for all children across the nation who deserve a stable, safe environment to grow and flourish.

Join us in asking the law-makers to revisit and revise the Parental Responsibility Act. We need your support to ensure resident parents are given additional authority in making decisions about their child, thereby enhancing child safety. Please sign this petition to demand a change in the laws surrounding PR.

If we gather 100,000 signatures for this petition, the government will be obligated to debate it. Let's spread the word far and wide! So many of us can connect with this issue, and together, our voices can make a difference.