We are calling for urgent reforms to protect victims of domestic violence—especially single mothers who care for children while still facing ongoing abuse from an ex-partner. Domestic violence devastates families and has long-term effects on children’s emotional, psychological, and behavioral development. Children exposed to abuse are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression, PTSD, learning and attention problems, and difficulties forming healthy relationships. These harms can persist into adulthood and perpetuate intergenerational cycles of trauma.

A dangerous misconception in many family court decisions is that biological parenthood alone equals safety. An abusive father who harasses the mother, uses children to control or denigrate her, or speaks negatively about her to the child is causing real harm. Courts that prioritize parental contact over safety can retraumatize families and place children at continued risk.

Common failures in family courts:
- Minimizing or disbelieving abuse claims or mistaking protective behavior for “parental alienation.”  Or in some cases taking the child from the protective parent and granting custody to the abusive parent. 
- Applying one-size-fits-all presumptions about shared custody and co parenting without assessing safety.  
- Lacking trauma-informed practices, evidence-based risk assessments, or qualified evaluators.  
- Forcing survivors to relive abuse in court or face the abuser directly without protections and to co parent with an abuser, exposing the child to further domestic violence and intimidation 
- Leaving survivors without affordable legal help, supervised visitation options, or essential supports.

Our demands for reform:
1. Mandatory, ongoing trauma-informed training for judges, attorneys, guardians ad litem, mediators, and court staff on domestic violence, coercive control, and child impact.  
2. Comprehensive, evidence-based risk and family assessments by qualified professionals.  
3. Prioritize safety over presumptive contact—use supervised visitation, restricted contact, or suspension where risk is present. Making the abusive parent accountable for their behaviour towards both the mother and therefore, the risk they pose to their children. 
4. Affordable, accessible supervised visitation and alternatives (monitored exchanges, virtual safeguards, therapeutic visitation).  
5. Legal recognition of emotional, psychological, and coercive abuse—not just physical violence. There should never be a hierarchy of abuse, no abuse should be tolerated. 
6. Protections against misuse of “parental alienation” or other unfounded accusations to punish protective parents.  
7. Streamlined, low-cost name-change procedures when safety requires removing a child’s association with an abuser.  
8. Safe pathways for survivors to present evidence, testify remotely, and avoid retaliation.  
9. Funding for legal representation, housing, counselling, and parent-child therapeutic services.  
10. Data collection, transparency, and accountability to track outcomes and prevent repeat harm.

Supervised visitation is a protective, not punitive, tool—balancing child safety with the potential for healthy parent–child contact when appropriate. Allowing an abuser easy access to a mother/child’s name or location can have grave consequences; streamlined name-change options can be lifesaving.

Join us: demand a family law system that recognizes the realities of domestic violence and centers safety for mothers and children. Sign and share our petition on change.org to protect survivors and ensure courts make informed, trauma-aware decisions. Your voice matters—help us keep families safe. 🩷💜🩵💙💚