Panel Discussion: The Power of ‘Vengeful Woman’ and ‘Parental Alienation’ Narratives in Family Law Systems

Family law systems globally have established a culture of failing to protect mothers and child targets of men’s coercive control, violence and abuse. Across multiple jurisdictions, including England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, children are being removed from mothers alleging violence and abuse and placed in the care of the alleged perpetrators. This issue has been identified in a recent UN report (Alsalem, 2023) https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5336-custody-violence-against-women-and-violence-against-children and researchers in affected jurisdictions. Panellists from Canada, New Zealand and Australia will discuss the contradictions and drivers of the failings of family law systems.