For more than a year, I have been estranged from my 13-year-old daughter after being her primary carer. Our lives took an unexpected turn when we found ourselves homeless amid the housing crisis in Western Australia additional to my daughter enduring a leg lengthening procedure. Despite finding a temporary refuge, this moment of vulnerability was used against me. As a mother dedicated to ensuring my child's well-being, being painted as unsafe for my daughter has been heartbreaking.

This experience is not unique to me. Across Western Australia, countless children are caught in the crossfire of parental disputes, being coerced to choose sides, often manipulated by one parent trying to control how the other lives and parents. This harmful practice not only disrupts familial bonds but also impacts a child's mental health, stability, and development.

Research indicates that children forced into forced loyalty conflicts endure emotional distress and confusion, adversely affecting their long-term well-being. Studies suggest that children benefit most when both parents engage civilly, enabling a supportive environment for growth.

Family court interventions can occasionally exacerbate these situations, focusing more on legalistic outcomes than the emotional health of children involved. We need to push for legislative reforms that emphasize child welfare, ensuring their right to maintain healthy relationships with both parents.

To address this pressing issue, we call upon the Western Australian government to:

1. Implement policies discouraging parental coercion and manipulation during custody disputes.
2. Provide resources and training for legal professionals on handling cases involving accusations of coercion humanely and impartially.
3. Establish support systems for families in conflict to protect and prioritize the emotional well-being of the child.

Your signature can help bring focus to an issue deeply affecting families across Western Australia, promoting a fairer, healthier system for our children. We need to ensure that all children have the right to love and be loved by both parents, free from coercion and control.

Please sign this petition to help create a future where children are never used as pawns in parental conflicts in Western Australia.