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A possible way forward
Added: (Tue Jan 10 2006)
Press Release
7 May 20042004
Grandparents Apart Self Help Groups
22 Alness Crescent Glasgow G52 1PJ
tel/fax 0141 882 5658
e-mail james@grandparents.fsnet.co.uk
website www.grandparentsapart.co.uk
To the Political Editor.
Dear Sir,
As you will be aware Ms Cathy Jamieson MSP has sent out proposals for the new Family Law Bill. We have been sent one for our comments. Ms Jamieson claims the Scottish Executive is not in favour of grandparents getting right of contact so we have sent a letter to every MSP and every Scottish MP and as many local councillors as we could asking for their support. The very first to contact us and give us his support was Mr Tam Dalyell MP. Our charity has been going now for three years and we have a petition on the go for September calling on the Scottish Executive to implement fully Article 8 of the Human Rights Act.
The deadline for comments to be in is 28th June 2004 and we ask if you could read our proposal on Presumption and hopefully agree to help us in a very worthwhile cause.
PRESUMPTION
Last year as part of the Coalition on Equal Parenting, Scotland England and Wales, we handed in a petition on “Presumption of Contact” for Fathers and Grandparents to Downing Street. EDM 299. 158 MPs have signed.
After consideration we also think this is the only way to go, all the legal procedures are in place for objection, with the onus of proof on the objector. This would give grandparents the respect they should have, and not the injustice of proving themselves in court to be worthy of contacting their grandchildren, if they were found to be unsuitable we would certainly support that.
This presumption would also reduce the dictator like power the guardians have, and encourage the greater use of mediation. “In the best interests of the children” mediation should be compulsory, after all adults have a choice, children in the main do not.
When it is made known this procedure is law, and properly enforced, it will also reduce “Alienation” as there would be no point in demeaning one’s character if the children can learn the truth for themselves in mediation. It would make families think twice about using the children as weapons just to get at each other or to win an argument.
It seems to be Ministers try their hardest to come up with clever ideas, but the simplest idea of “Presumption” outshines the lot. It looks like grandparents are the only ones actually thinking about the children’s real welfare. Children are being mentally and emotionally abused while everyone argues about what the adults want, is it a wonder society is deteriorating when children grow up within this environment. We want the politics to stop and the commonsense caring to begin.
In response to proposed Scottish Family Law Bill we are starting an emergency petition on “Presumption” to be presented by 28th June, but the earlier petitions we have presented come to the same conclusion.
“For the sake of our children” we ask you to support our call for Presumption. The result would be a more stable family life for the children, freed from being pawns and emotionally abused, creating a much better caring citizen of the future.
Yours sincerely,
James Deuchars (chairperson)