Today I signed an open letter to the Lord Chancellor for change in Family Court! 

I signed the open letter along with other campaigners, professionals and survivors of family court.  Yes, survivors, as it is currently a place of destruction not togetherness. 

Family court in my view falls way short than it ever should and actually is not fit for purpose.  The word family does not fit into the title given that the adversarial practice in 'family' court smashes through the very meaning of family which is "a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit".  Family court processes pit parents against one another, in this situation no-ones wins.  It often destroys lives and has led to murder.

The open letter points to the abhorrent practice of cross examination by litigants in person in the family court in particular.  This practice is hugely problematic given it often allows perpetrators of domestic abuse to cross examine their victim!

Yes you heard that right. 

A person potentially convicted of criminality through the criminal courts can be given a platform to abuse their victims via the family court - legally and right under the nose of a judge.  Ludicrous!

I want us to go further, I started this petition back in 2014 after going through the horrific ordeal of family court, after and while recovering from almost murder.  My daughter was ripped away, my siblings separated.  I was ridiculed, blamed and it costs me a small fortune to prove my ability as a good mother.  Guilty until proven innocent yet I was the victim!  

No-one understands or can comprehend the shear gravity of this process unless they have been subjected to it. 

For me it was worse than almost being killed. 

No good parent wants to be branded a bad parent and certainly not when its by the other parent who are doing this for their own revenge and given this perceived power by the the court. 

So much is wrong with the system and little to nothing has changed since I started campaigning and created my group IWMM 'I want my mummy' which is what my 4 year old daughter used to cry down the phone when her so-called 'good' father put her on the phone to torment me for his own entertainment.

Please sign and share this petition - we must keep shining a light on this dark place.  I have campaigned with many strong courageous women, mothers and many are still being tormented to this day.  It is medieval.

Take a moment to feel this and take action now.

Thank you 

Zoe Dronfield