I am a victim of a crime that receives startlingly inadequate attention in our society - parental kidnapping. My almost 3-year-old son's father, who was my common-law partner at the time, took him and his passport while I was asleep. Despite being his mother, I have been denied any information of their whereabouts or any contact with my son for the past three weeks.

This harrowing experience accentuated the stark reality that our legal system disproportionately favours biological rights over a child's well-being. The police, MCFD, courts, all turned a blind eye to my plight. They said they were powerless to intervene because he is my son's father. Even with support and evidence from numerous health professionals that attest to my character and ability to keep parenting my child as I’ve always done, only his unfounded allegations matter, with no proof. The father has been abusive throughout our relationship. He is continuing the cycle of abuse and control through parental alienation and trying to destroy me in the process. 

Parental kidnapping goes beyond a mere violation of custodial rights; it becomes child abuse when it is used to isolate, manipulate, and control a child. It is a grave reality that child abuse is largely perpetrated by family members. In 2012, family members were involved in more than half (54%) of the substantiated cases of child maltreatment in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012).

Our legal system needs to do better. Every child deserves to live in a safe, nurturing environment devoid of fear or psychological trauma. Our courts need to swiftly intervene in cases of parental kidnapping, especially when there are allegations of domestic violence involved.

This petition is a plea, on behalf of myself and countless other victims of parental kidnapping, to our lawmakers to reform the existing legal framework relating to parental rights and child custody disputes. We need laws that effectively discourage parental kidnapping and protect our children from being pawns of abusive, controlling parents.

Your signature can bring a change and give a child like my son a chance at a better and safe future. Please sign this petition.