It is widely stated that Britain has one of the least family friendly laws in the western world. There are many examples to bear this out. Take but one aspect.

Parents who are not allowed direct access to their Children, by Family Courts, are often tortured by having only the Indirect Contact of writing letters. For a parent in this context it is a demeaning and emotionally draining exercise which often causes great distress to both the parent and the child receiving the letter.

The psychological torture endured by most parents and children who have to go through such an ordeal is such that the exercise becomes a form of abuse, which is extremely demoralising, to say the least.

As a reasonable self respecting parent, having played such a crucial role by being physically present in your children's life, to be reduced to a situation where the only contact you are allowed is writing letters to a minor who in some cases may be as young as 4 years old, is beyond mere humiliation. It is inhumane to both parent and the minor.

Writing letters in this context is not proof of good parenting skills, it does not nurture discipline or respect, it only serves to further alienate the child from their parent.

The trauma of losing contact for both parents and children is an unbearable heartbreak. It is injurious to one’s mental and physical health to a point where the parent victims find themselves in crises that have lead to some disenfranchised taking their own lives.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948, art. 5) INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (1976, art. 7)

The term “torture“ means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions. (CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT (1984, art. 1, para.1) Yet parents who do not comply risk losing any further form of contact with their children.

The common practice by the Court, Social Services and Cafcass of allowing solely letter-writing as the only form of contact degrades family life by punishing both the child and parent and I believe it should be rescinded with immediate effect in the best interest of innocent Children.

Even though supervised contact facilities are available with security measures in place to manage safeguarding issues, some willing parents are still denied access due to discrimination or legal bias and find themselves disenfranchised by having to write letters only.

The writing of letters in and of itself is not bad practice, but to make it the only means of contact for families in is not conducive to promoting harmony and well-being, but instead becomes degrading and a form of mental torture for both Children and Parents which only adds to the social constraints imposed on families following relationship breakdowns. Urgent intervention on this matter is required to forestall Suicides and unnecessary suffering in our society.

This evil in our society will persist if you choose not to sign and share this petition now!