Twentieth Anniversary of the National Day of the Child

Press Release: For Immediate Release Friday, November 20, 2009

The Canadian Equal Parenting Council observes the 20^th anniversary of the National Day of the Child

Ottawa, Ontario – In honour of National Day of the Child, the Canadian Equal Parenting Council hosted two events in Ottawa on November 19, 2009 for Senators, Members of Parliament, and the public concerning Equal Shared Parenting and the need for family law reform.

The first event, a parliamentary breakfast co-sponsored by Members of Parliament Maurice Vellacott and Raymonde Folco, provided a forum to discuss the Private Member's bill C-422. This bill is intended to revise the Divorce Act to make Equal Parenting the rebuttable default position. Dr. Edward Kruk, who has made extensive recommendations related to how our Family Courts adjudicate and manage the highly complex issues of divorce, was also in attendance.

The second event was be held in the evening at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa and was a free public information seminar held on equal parenting, an introduction to Federal Bill C-422 and the need for family law reform.

The hosting of the event occurred one day before the 20^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which outlines the basic human rights children and youth are entitled, including the right to live with their parent(s), unless it is harmful to them. And for children whose parents do not live together, the basic right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this might harm the child.

The last significant reforms to the Divorce Act were in 1986. It has been over ten years since the Joint Senate-Commons Committee on Child Custody and Access issued the report "For the Sake of the Children". This report made 48 recommendations on shared parenting and parallel reforms recognizing children's relationships with their parents should not end upon separation or divorce. The Canadian government has yet to implement these recommendations.

On June 16, 2009 MP, Maurice Vellacott introduced Equal Shared Parenting Private Members Bill, C-422, into Parliament. Bill C-422 reflects comprehensive input from the Canadian extended divorce community and would bring Canadian legislation in line with research on the best interests of children.

In observance of National Day of the Child, the Canadian Equal Parenting Council encourages Canadians everywhere to become familiar with Bill C-422 and to show their support for Equal Parenting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Canadian Equal Parenting Council is a Canadian family rights coalition of 41 organizations representing divorced mothers/fathers/children, grandparents, step-parents, and second spouses seeking: family law reform starting with equal parenting; gender equality; recognition of domestic violence as a genderless social dysfunction; and adoption of child and parental rights in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child within a clear statement of state vs. family boundaries.

Contact:

Kristin Titus, Co-President, Canadian Equal Parenting

Home office: 905-987-5777, Email: Kristin.titus(at)canadianepc.com

13 November 2009: Real Fathers for Justice outside Belfast Court

Category: News

Posted by: Admin

Today RFFJ members attended Belfast Court to raise awareness and make themselves available to member of the public and fathers attending court. A petition was available and many members of the legal profession signed highlighting their support for changes in the way the current system fails families seeking remedy from the Family Courts.

This is the continued low key presence of RFFJ Northern Ireland and will see the increase if further awareness campaigning in the near future.

This follows on from the successful meeting with the Gender and Sexual Orientation Equality Unit Northern Ireland at the beginning of October.



More on this meeting here http://bit.ly/1WHYhB

Report from our regional coordinator Peter below:

Real Fathers for Justice N Ireland were mentioned on the news bulletins, half hourly, this morning on N Ireland radio Station U105fm.

Real Fathers for Justice N Ireland were out on the streets of Belfast today. We had a 10ft banner draped across the front railings of the Family Court and handed out leaflets. We also collected signatures on a petition we had for a review of family law in N Ireland. Several barristers signed this petition.

We did not wear costumes but instead adopted for suits. We chose this approach as we felt people would not stop and listen to us, and to prove to the people we are normal everyday guys. The Police were very prominent in the area but did not approach or prevent us from carrying on.

We entered the court and asked for permission to enter waiting rooms in family court to give out leaflets to the male attendees. Although very sympathetic to our cause, security felt they could not authorise that, instead calling a senior court official down. The court official said we could leave leaflets which approved, would be put on information board. He took us in to see what material was already there and we quickly highlighted there was none for men. We have now been given the opportunity to supply leaflets for men.

We heard a few harrowing cases of men suffering in this court and hope that our membership will rise after today.

Our next venture is next Saturday at a community run fair in Magharafelt. This will be low key again, but after that we will hit the streets with a big demo, outfits on, before Christmas.

http://www.realfathersforjustice.org/news/index.php?itemid=298