Is this feminist propaganda?

"There is no greater problem in family law today than the problems of adaquately addressing child protection concerns under the Family Law Act"

"Councils research and consultations on this issue indicate that the problems in the present system are very serious indeed. Reform is urgently needed"

4.7 "It is often said that allegation of abuse are easier to make than refute. Claims of parental alienation syndrome or that an abuse allegation has been made falsely in order to gain a strategic advantage are easier to make than refute. Indeed attack can be the best form of defence in response to an allegation of child abuse".

Quotes from: Family Law Council, Final Report, Family Law and Child Protection, September 2002.

Government leaftlets advise separated parents: not to critise 'ex' -it works against the critic. A child who loves her/his parents does not like it and will rebel - against the critic parent. Children think, interpret, reason and feel for themselves.

'Alienation' has been distorted, taken out of context to equate with the severity of sexual, physical and other forms of severe emotional abuse (e.g threats to kill oneself).

Using terminology to manipulate the truth, alienation has been elevated to severe abuse equal to the horror of sexual interference. PAS or just plain alienation is being used to justify the removal of children from their mother.

What damages relationships and children most is where a protective parent is court enforced to hand his/her child over to be abused.

What damages the relationship between child and other parent (non-resident) is when this parent physically, emotionally and/or sexually abuses their child.

Court experts using PAS to reinforce a false belief system and ignore cumulative, severe abuse, perpetuate abuse. This is the crime, not PAS.

I haven't seen a single comment to the effect that abuse doesn't happen, merely that it is not the widespread problem that some vested interests would have us believe.

It is also a gendered issue, because the allegations nearly always emanate from the mother and are directed at the father or his friends and family. As your reference mentioned, it is easy to make the allegation and once made, it can be hard to stop the mud sticking. Evidence-based claims are the only ones that should be taken seriously, not the possibly partisan views of a mother who feels she is being hard done by in her divorce or who wants to "get at" the father for perceived grievances arising during their marriage. She may also see it as a way of generating sympathy from those she is looking to for assistance with her matter.

As a point of interest, I understand that the greatest risk to children is posed by step-parents, usually a mother's new partner, rather than by biological parents. The worst case for a child is to have a father who is uninvolved for whatever reason and a mother with a series of boyfriends. Who does the poor kid turn to in that situation?

I've said before that it behooves those who support mothers through custody battles to make it clear that false allegations of abuse will not be tolerated, giving the genuine ones some chance of being heard.

Justice for Kids, PA is not as bad as some other forms of abuse but it is a serious abuse which should be treated with contempt rather than minimised. Parents willing to engage in that tactic should be assumed to be either incapable or unwilling to put their childs well being ahead of their own interests and depending on the severity of the behaviour it should be a factor in determining residency arrangements. PA comes in a variety of strengths, I'm refering to a clear cut attempt to damage the relationship between a child and the other parent.

A skilled manipulator will be subtle enough that a child is unlikely to latch onto what is happening - adults struggle enough with this stuff let alone children. The skilled manipulator will play up any existing discontent, create situations that make the other party look bad, pander to the childs wants without regard to the childs wellbeing and agree with the childs concerns that the other parent does not do so. It does not have to be about one parent sitting the child down and explaining why the other parent is bad.

It happens, it's real and it is a serious abuse of children and the other parent. The apparent widespread acceptance false accusations and PA is one the reasons why accusations and childrens "wishes" may get less attention than they deserve. Accusations should be appropriately investigated, abuse of mechanisms designed to protect children should be treated as a form of abuse.

R0bert

Research into the bullying techniques of school girls shows that girls use a number techniques, such as telling bad or false stories about a person as well as isolating their victim.

This behaviour is rationalized and justified as the victim deserved the treatment.

The aim of female bullies is to inflict emotional pain. Researchers also found that the female bullies adapted their techniques with the aid of modern technology.

I appreciate the fact that not all females who were bullies when they were younger will continue that type of behaviour.

I put it to the bloggers that there is a very strong vested interest in discounting PSA for the reason that if it is acknowledge as a problem then that means some women will have to examine their own behaviour which is not a particularly comfortable experience.

And it is not acceptable that maybe men do have a valid point afterall.

My daughters weres abducted a 2nd time by the mother a community health nurse well versed with working with dysfunctional families in Dec 99. I have not seen them since and was obliged to return to the UK. I read the Stephen Lunn article and the CJ comments on her "experts" who in my caee was not qualified in psychiatric medicine yet allowed to make an assessment. The SA Psychology Board condone this as "professional opinion".
Because the mother is above the law and her spouse an abuser there is nothing that has been done to protect my daughters from harm. They are afraid.
I associate Australia with dishonesty and corrupt practices. Indeed a few weeks ago ABC News published a call by an Adelaide QC for a public inquiry citing anecdotal evidence of corruption at all levels of Government. It is bad really bad.

There is an interesting development that even in lesbian relationships, when they break down the maternal mother will try and exclude the social mother using similar tactics to that used in heterosexual relationships.