SHERA Research Group: Health Law Rights Support ©
@SheraFamily
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Research in #Health, #Social, #HumanRights #Familycourt #violence impacts on #Women #Children Insta:@ sherafamily_ WARNING @SHERAFAMILLE ARE UNRELATED SCAMMERS
Joined February 2022
This is the modus operandi of all abusers - coercive controllers, workplace bullies, abusive 'partners' and paedophiles: 'Abusers show up as charlatans, a wolf in sheep's clothing and victims fall in line. victims form a trauma bond. abusers use therapy against their victim'.
Tedx It is ALL coercive control. #mariecouldbeme.#mariecouldbeyou.Full TEDx link found in bio and here:
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This is a devastating and severe admission from a world-leading and very experienced barrister @DrProudman cc @ShabanaMahmood @Keir_Starmer.
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HUGE congratulations to SHERA founder & core member the legend that is @Natalie_Page_ @EightStreetLLP for launching her new paralegal firm Eight Street LLP. There would be no SHERA without this awesome woman who also guided all our studies, the sector owes so much to Natalie🎉❤️
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Appalled that a regulated psychiatrist could call for @DrJessTaylor to be ‘fcked in the a-se with a barbed pole’. Good to see action has been taken, thank you @gmcuk #GBV #westandwithDrJessTaylor.
I debated talking about this at all, but I am sick of always staying quiet about the abuse I am subjected to for my work. GMC have issued a 2 year public warning to Dr Ahmed Huda for posting on social media that I need to be ‘fcked in the a-se with a barbed pole’. He still
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Our thoughts are with Virginia Giuffre's family and all SA survivors. Virginia was a dedicated campaigner and mother, who was being kept from her children via her ex-husband and #familycourt who she claimed was 'poisoning her children against her'.
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Mother @clairethrossell of two boys killed by their father in a deliberate house fire said she hopes her autobiography will reach out to victims of #domesticabuse #familycourt. Paul & Jack were murdered - on an unsupervised parental visit to their father
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This will be an essential read. Thank you @David_Challen. David fought to overturn his mother's conviction for murder; and in doing so he not only freed his mother and transformed the legal system, but also became a voice for the countless victims of #coercivecontrol.
I grew up in a picture-perfect home, but something was unspoken, unseen, and quietly shaping everything. This is the story of what it took to name it, and what led to…. THE UNTHINKABLE.Out 5 June 2025. 🧍🏼👩🏼🤝👨🏻🧍🏼♂️🏠 .Pre-order here ➡️
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Thanks @debbieatmos, when will this end? #familycourt @UNSRVAW The @Womens_Aid research with international experts shows parental alienation is claimed in 46% to 60% of court cases involving #domesticviolence, often used to undermine mothers and their children while hiding abuse
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We ask, who cares about victim-survivor adults and children in #familycourt? Why is nobody collecting data on court-induced health impacts? court-induced suicide? It is unacceptable that nobody has thought to identify this with scores of studies citing these harms @Keir_Starmer
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It's well established by CSA experts that a child's report of sexual abuse is the most important information in CSA cases & yet in our paper led by Lucy Hayton @Right2Equality we reported judges rely on outdated sources from the 90's on this @DrProudman
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In this case, @DrProudman represents a mother appealing against the decision that her child has overnight stays with a father found to be a rapist in #familycourt. The father's #postseparationabuse continues. We hope Justice Peel makes the right decision.
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'Courts don’t take children without a good reason' is a myth. Survivors aren't making this up — they’re living the consequences. Courts once ruled that women could not vote. Courts once jailed women for voting. Courts once upheld segregation. Courts once criminalized love. '.
"Courts don't take children from their mothers for no good reason.".I just read this on Instagram, but the truth is, family courts often get it wrong. Faith in broken systems costs lives. Courts have given children back to known abusers. Courts have ignored violence, coercion,.
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Judge to victim: 'You're too intelligent to be raped', as if some sort of intelligence sword or shield can stop a rapist?! We hope they make a film from @DrProudman's book so people understand the reality for women in #familycourt which as @thecrimeanalyst notes, protects rapists.
Listen to @laurarichards99 read from my book, highlighting “how the system protects rapists” and fails women like Isla, Denise, and Kate. Pre-order now to uncover the full truth:
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At @Right2Equality launch of their campaign. CEO of @RapeCrisisEandW pointed to systemic failings of #FamilyCourt & assessors 'in all child contact disputes involving #domesticabuse some form of contact was ordered before a risk assessment was completed'
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'The legal system is designed to protect men from the superior power of the state but not to protect women or children from the superior power of men' Prof Judith Herman, professor of clinical psychiatry.
@SheraFamily The legal system was not designed for women and women had no place in it. There is no chance that women can be treated fairly in divorce and custody hearings: they don’t belong in courts.
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1 in 20 children in the UK has experienced sexual abuse. Approximately 100,000 children are involved in #privatelaw #familycourt proceedings. In 15 years of experience, @DrProudman has never seen a judge find CSA. Are we really supposed to believe all FC CSA reports are untrue?.
I’ve been at the Bar for almost 15 years. In all that time, I’ve never seen a judge make findings of child sexual abuse against a father in private law cases. Not once. What I have seen is this: courts find the mother coached the child, accuse her of alienation, or say the abuse.
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New research from SHERA member and Johns Hopkins University brilliant researcher, Katie Spearman: post-separation abuse tactics contributing to children's unmet health needs: (1) obstruction and manipulation of children's healthcare, (2) stalking and.
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Many thanks to our wonderful friend and colleague @DrProudman on the launch of her new book 'He said She said'. Charlotte is a true inspiration 💜.
Too many women are told to stay quiet, play nice, and be liked. I chose the other path. Calling out injustice and male power in the family courts — and not backing down. @guardian front page today. My new book He Said, She Said is out 1 May. 🔗
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'I was unable to escape the #DomesticViolence in my marriage until recently. children were poisoned with lies'. Numerous reports & statistics show increases globally in abuse-induced suicide for women #CPIT #familycourt #courtandperpetratorinducedtrauma
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Our findings and the BBC @EdThomasNews documentary indicate that many women may be dying by suicide due to #familycourt abuse and children taken from them. We are still awaiting real change in FC #RIPVirginiaGiuffre @Keir_Starmer @MoJGovUK.
Virginia Giuffre survived trafficking, fought for justice, gave hope to victims — and was fighting again in family court. “My beautiful babies have no clue how much I love them… abuse me, but don’t take my babies.”.She survived horrors. But losing your children can break women.
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Thank you @DrProudman #familycourt #HeSaidSheSaid 'it is the mothers who are victims who end up becoming the perpetrators, to the point where their children are taken away from them'
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.@TheFlyingChild 'I recently sat beside a friend as they navigated the legal system. I saw the same disbelief. Heard the same victim blaming. The same silence from those who colluded. The violence of suits and age-old systems designed to protect the perpetrator. Never the victim'.
How many lives lost to abuse and exploitation does it actually take to make a difference? . Today we wake up to the same headlines. Most images I’m seeing of Virginia Giuffre are recent. I choose to recall the one taken when she was a young girl in her teens. A child. One quote
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Important updates @jessphillips. We still await a formal response of the Family Law President re recommendations of the National Safeguarding Review Panel which highlighted #familycourts have, in some instances, failed to protect children from sexual abuse
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Almost a decade since this on CSA from a judge: "The position of a complainant whose allegation is described as 'unsubstantiated' is extraordinarily difficult, but sometimes 'unsubstantiated' is no more than a euphemism for 'uninvestigated'." #familycourt
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Very emotional 🥹 to have our work cited in this @DrProudman book, which is a tour de force #familycourt #HeSaidSheSaid. Honoured to be thanked in the acknowledgements alongside such wonderful women too, thank you Charlotte 💜.
Some nights stay with you. The launch of He Said She Said on 1 May is one I’ll never forget. @HelenaKennedyKC and @KayBurley brought such clarity, fire, and generosity to the conversation—we covered so much, and I’m still thinking about the stories, the solidarity, and the
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Via @hansummers @louisetickle 'Why were the #familycourt’s alarm bells not clanging?. The historic allegations against Urfan Sharif had still not been tested or proved'
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Truly heart-breaking accounts in #HeSaidSheSaid of #reproductiveabuse #reproductivecoercion. @DrProudman details how abusive fathers tried to force mothers into abortion abused them during labour & wrote 'sex contracts' for women during pregnancy. Horrific
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‘To date, I believe the King’s Bench Division of the High Court has had eight judges of a BAME background. The Family Division has had none. The statistics can no longer be justified. ' cc @DrProudman @BarnettAdrienne
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@DrProudman Our findings and the BBC @EdThomasNews indicate that many women may be dying by suicide due to #familycourt abuse and children taken from them. We are still awaiting real change in FC
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It is time to remove 'fabricated induced illness' from our systems. One study found 50% of allegations of FII were made after a parent carer had complained about the actions of the relevant public body. We found FII was used to victim-blame in #familycourt
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There is no plausible reason recordings and transcripts can't be made available to #familycourt litigants. Lord Ponsonby recently asked us whether all judgements should be published (anonymously) and all transcripts made available to litigants. The simple answer is yes #data.
Just release the data already. @OpenJusticeCoP @tribunaltweets2 @VictimsComm @FreeSpeechUnion @VictimsComm @HMCTSgovuk @JudiciaryUK . @ICOnews , you need to make a clear statement about court files, digital recordings transcripts and judges notes. Now.
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Congratulations @DrProudman, if you are looking for some summer reading. 👇✊🥳.
⭐ It’s publication day! He Said, She Said is out now‼️ . ⭐ This book is for every woman who’s been silenced, doubted, or dismissed. 🌟 I can’t wait for you to read it. Thank you for all of your support!. Grab your copy here:
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Carol says abuse is continuing through #familycourts & claims she has been blamed for the trauma her daughter is suffering. "She has developed a stutter and has begun bedwetting. She wakes in the middle screaming & crying. @survivorsinform @Natalie_Page_
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The #familycourt system is unique in its consistent lack of data collection, a choice that effectively hinders efforts toward meaningful reform.
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Abusers tend to unravel themselves by their own actions, record keeping is key for victim-survivors
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HUGE congratulations also to @DrProudman for her new book 'He said She said' and congrats to @DrJessTaylor for continued being a great human 😊
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'In Rwanda, I examined the public health effects of rape as a weapon of war. in Ivory Coast, I researched the effects of civil war on #domesticviolence. However, nowhere have I witnessed the level of serious, egregious, widespread violence as in the #FamilyCourts' @BandyXLee1👇.
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Our formidable Head of Policy and Impact at SHERA @PaolaMotosi presented to the Brazilian minister of women, head of @unwomen Brazil and Silvia Pimentel, former head of CEDAW at the national chamber of deputies yesterday to launch the new book she translated 'Parental Alienation
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#Institutionalbetrayal is harm an institution does to those who depend upon it. This betrayal can take the form of overt policies or behaviours, such as discriminatory rules or genocide. Harm can also mean failing to do that what is expected of the institution, such as not
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Excellent point from @DrJessTaylor. Also, fathers' rights and PA advocates claim to be child-focused but rarely address fathers convicted of child abuse or murder. Their silence on male violence is telling.
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Too often we are hearing that children are not receiving appropriate support and/or medical care they need in #familycourt cases. See Spearman et al (2025)
@4StopChildAbuse @GovMurphy @mattplatkin @AlinaHabba @DOGE_DOJ @DOGE_DOJ @AGPamBondi @JosieGrama @jo2378789_nikki @PISSEDolpatriot @danielle2u @court_crisis @InstituteFAS @ResoluteSupport @hrw @SheraFamily @mikevolpe @MeghanWalsh_ @jo2378789_nikki @rluthmann @mikevolpe
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Thank you @InstituteFAS "Our message is there is no safe way to strangle - the anatomy is the anatomy. Reduction in oxygen to the brain or blood flow will result in the same medical consequences, regardless of context."
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@Beloved71478281 @OpenJusticeCoP @tribunaltweets2 @VictimsComm @FreeSpeechUnion @HMCTSgovuk @JudiciaryUK @ICOnews There is no plausible reason recordings and transcripts can't be made available to #familycourt litigants. Lord Ponsonby recently asked us whether all judgements should be published (anonymously) and all transcripts made available to litigants. The simple answer is yes #data.
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We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis @Pontifex_it especially during this holy period. Pope Francis called for an end to violence against women and children and spoke frequently against domestic abuse. May he rest in peace. For support reach out to @iamCARITAS.
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The manipulation of a child to undermine their relationship with their mother - used by abusive fathers to perpetuate control and abuse post-separation - is a recognized pattern of behaviour. We refer to this as Child and Mother Sabotage (#CAMS)
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@Jaimi_Shrive 24% of children aged 5-7 own smartphones, 93% of 12-15 year olds & 98% of 16-18 year olds. They are not phones, but mini computers, where they can access porn freely. Filters & age verification measures to block explicit content are not 100% effective #Bansmartphonesforchildren.
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50+ long term health impacts reported by mothers.
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Important point from @abusedbytheblue. As we've noted before, it's remarkable that dog mothers are afforded stronger protections around mother-infant separation than many human women. In most places, it is illegal to separate a puppy from its mother before 8 weeks of age. .
We need to enshrine the mother-fetus, mother-infant, mother-child dyad within legislation. Right now men have the clear message they own women & children thanks to the @FCFCOA.
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Its a tragedy that #Savanna has been forced to close it's doors due to lack of funding after 40 years. This life saving sexual violence service for 2k+ people a year, like many others was chronically underfunded. Gov must ensure services can stay open
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24% of children aged 5-7 own smartphones, 93% of 12-15 year olds & 98% of 16-18 year olds. They are not phones, but mini computers, where they can access porn freely. Filters & age verification measures to block explicit content are not 100% effective #Bansmartphonesforchildren.
Anyone surprised by Lily Phillips watching porn from age 11 isn’t paying attention. In 2016, the NSPCC found that 53% of children watch online porn. This was almost a decade ago, and porn consumption has increased hugely since then. Peer-on-peer sexual violence is increasing.
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@DrProudman @ShabanaMahmood @Keir_Starmer It is well established by CSA experts that a child's report of sexual abuse is the most important information in CSA cases and yet in our paper led by Lucy Hayton @Right2Equality, we reported that judges rely on outdated sources from the 90's on this
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Planning together for children (formerly SPIP) is defined as a co-parenting course. CAFCASS state it is not appropriate in cases where abuse is a risk. However, parents can be made to attend before the first hearing. How can they assure no abuse risks prior to this?
The Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) sounds like an insidious form of disciplinary regulation and victim-blaming. I’ve been told about a film that parents are shown where the mother is worried and anxious about the children seeing the father at a contact centre and.
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Research suggests the family law system may give more weight to the non-First Nations party’s version of events, with family violence present in 83% of parenting proceedings in the #familycourts, change is needed #structuralracism
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@DrJessTaylor It is also notable that the father's rights groups and PA advocates who claim they are child focussed never seem to say anything regarding fathers criminally convicted for child murder or abuse, they seem to live in a world free from male violence, convenient that isn't it?.
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Many don't know this, but Socrates also noted that Aspasia taught him about the MOST important aspects of life (his words) of Love and higher being/transcendence. She was mistress in the sense of wise-woman and teacher and not amoral as some claim.
Time and time again, women’s achievements have been omitted out of our history books
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'We were particularly concerned about some family court’s decisions described in reviews where a lack of recognition of the risk had resulted in children being placed with or having unsupervised contact with the person who was abusing them'
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Both terrorism & #domesticabuse are rooted in power, control & coercive tactics. As @Dekeseredy argues, gendered violence isn’t isolated, it’s part of broader social systems that normalise domination & fear. Different forms, same logic. #Violence #MVAWC
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'Despite research evidence indicating that children rarely make false allegations, that they are not easily ‘led’ by practitioners, and that sexual abuse by a family member is considerably more common than is often believed, practitioners, including most influentially the.
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Proud to sign this letter on insufficient safeguards to protect the most marginalised #AssistedDying, as a member of the National Board of Catholic Women VAWG committee and researcher in #domesticabuse and #coercive. Thank you Chine for leading this.
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@CollinRugg The family court played a huge part in this. Our findings indicate many women are dying by suicide due to being separated from their children in the courts. Virginia said her children were 'poisoned with lies' against her
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To send us a message: that we must be silent, or we will lose the right to be mothers—and even the right to exist. We will not stop denouncing the violence perpetrated against us and against our children.' Thank you CLADEM, Equality Now, and especially Dr. Tamara Gonsalves'
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Come join the team! @ResoluteSupport is preparing to expand its Board of Trustees, pending final approval from the Charity Commission. We are a charity committed to supporting women who have experienced #domesticabuse, helping them to rebuild their lives with strength, dignity. .
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@sammy_lianne @DrProudman @ShabanaMahmood @Keir_Starmer Outrageous, just completely devastating. The poor children and the protective parents, just awful.💔.
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We call on government to prioritize the extradition of Andrew Tate to ensure that justice is served. At the same time, victim-survivors face the risk of losing their children or imprisonment for speaking publicly about their cases if they are unable to appear in court.
Tomorrow is the first court hearing of the UK civil case being brought against Andrew Tate by four British women he is alleged to have raped and assaulted. At the hearing, we expect the court to set down directions and a timetable for trial to take place next year. Tate himself
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@DrProudman @BarnettAdrienne black female barristers earning significantly less than their white colleagues, Sapnara said ‘there is no escaping the fact that the only logical conclusion is that they are victims of structural discrimination’.
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@DrProudman Our findings indicate such cases may be more common within #familycourt. There is no public data allowing scrutiny of just how often the courts are forcing children into direct contact with fathers found to be rapists in FC or criminally convicted rapists.
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🚨'As we warned some time ago, it was only a matter of time before they tried to promote a law that would counteract the progress made in recognizing vicarious violence. The note was issued by the PAN Parliamentary Group in the State of Mexico.' @frenten_morelos @UNSRVAW.
Como lo advertimos hace tiempo, era solo cuestión de “tiempo”para que intentaran promover una ley que contrarrestara los avances en el reconocimiento de la violencia vicaria. La nota la da el Grupo Parlamentario del PAN en el Estado de México. @SheraFamily.
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Wonderful new course on #coercion #coercivecontrol #familycourt #litigation informed by our founder member @DrEmmaKatz, Peter Jaffe & Evan Stark (in memoriam) led by our colleagues at @nfvlcgwu for online professional curriculum sign up here:
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Our Head of Policy and Impact @PaolaMotosi gave a compelling speech at the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning the repeal of the #ParentalAlienationLaw @LulaOficial #Brazil #FamilyCourt
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Because a woman/girl is invisible unless it suits the narrative. Making women/girls visible here only 'burdens' the bill, her actual experience of burden is invisible to maintain the narrative. Thank you @Jess4Lowestoft for your strength and tenacity on this.
The Impact Assessment and the Equality Impact Assessment have been released for the Assisted Dying Bill. Will take a while to read in detail. But first thought is, why doesn’t the section on sex assess burden while the one on disability does?
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Peace and best wishes to our Sikh, Jewish and Christian friends and colleagues at this special time 💜#passover #PalmSunday #Vaisakhi @JewishWomensAid @SikhWomensAid @NikkiDhillon @SignsofHopeUK
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Thank you @SarahTaylo89428 for highlighting the plight of victims who face post separation abuse in #familycourt and our findings re suicide/suicidal ideation of women and children. Thank you @mimsdavies for your support on this.
Tonight I raised the failures of the family court on BBC Question Time and since spoken to Mims Davies the Shadew Welsh Secretary! Very encouraging. Keep writing to your MPs x
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The findings of the national review closely align with our own findings. We urge the Family Division to take immediate and decisive action to address these serious concerns
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judiciary in family courts, are urged to beware the ‘lessons’ of Cleveland'.
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@DrProudman Thank you, Charlotte. We took the figure from the NSPCC 2025 publication here. But you are right in that there are mixed figures on this, owing to estimates being inaccurate due to children under-reporting, either figure is horrifying
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This system is beyond failing, it is destroying lives and handing children to perpetrators.
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Our findings indicate such cases may be more common within #familycourt. There is no public data allowing scrutiny of just how often courts are compelling children into direct contact with fathers found to be rapists in FC or criminally convicted rapists.
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@DrJessTaylor Also love to sniff a new book LOL and say a little book prayer, sorry I am about to write all over you sweet smelling new book ha.
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institutional betrayal outlining 'institutional courage'
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@MaryEllen121987 @breeda_murphy Absolutely Mary Ellen, we found this in our research. Mothers who complained during proceedings were swiftly accused of FII and had their children removed. This is reflected in the work of Prof Clements too
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Thanks @BarnettAdrienne for shining a further light on these experiences. We urge @MoJGovUK to promptly investigate the extent to which victims are being referred to co-parenting interventions & to assess whether such referrals are appropriate & aligned to safeguarding protocols.
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Join the campaign and write to your MP:
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Please help #FatouTamba, She fled political persecution, built a life in Liverpool, and is a deeply loved member of her community. Please send an email to your MP demanding they act immediately. A letter template is included in the below post @FiLiA_charity.
Urgent Intervention Needed – Deportation of Fatou Tamba. Fatou is known to our team and we are asking if you can spare some time on this urgent call to action.
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@DrProudman *edit: estimates are mixed with studies pointing to 1 in 6 girls, 1 in 20 boys, 1 in 20 children and 1 in 6 children" - IICSA, Rape Crises and NSPCC*.
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of DA & while proceedings were ongoing, meaning there is potential victims are being forced to attend co-parenting courses. There is clear evidence that effective co-parenting is not possible in situations involving abuse, as dynamics of abuse undermine it
@LDNVictimsComm @arminkahelic @carolinenokes @jessphillips @CommissionerDA @AlexChalkChelt Unfortunately CAFCASS ICFA programme has become the UK-equivalent to reunification camps, even in cases of court-found child abuse. Happy to forward many live cases that show this. Children who are resisting contact due to court found abuse are still being forced into contact.
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Respectfully, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, you are mistaken. @WHO recognises #coercivecontrol as a key driver of domestic homicides, yet the bill fails to adequately consider how assisted dying could be misused in these contexts
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@DrJessTaylor @DrProudman @Natalie_Page_ So sad to have not been there, so very looking forward to reading, huge congrats Charlotte xx.
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and purpose. As we continue to grow, we are looking for new Trustees to join our board and help guide the organisation through its next phase. This is a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a vital cause. Trustees play a key role in shaping strategy, ensuring good governance.
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and supporting our mission to change how society responds to domestic abuse. We are particularly interested in individuals with experience in:. Charity leadership or governance. IT and infrastructure projects. Finance, fundraising or legal compliance.
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Oliver Bullough: "All money corrupts, and big money corrupts bigly". #Morality and #love are THE essence and meaning of life. Without these, we are mere masses of cells from dust we begin to dust we will return.
I know FOR SURE that some scientists, academics, influencers, and politicians have been, and continue to be, paid serious money to write about, speak about, ‘discover’ or argue certain points, products, theories, or ‘evidence’ - and it always makes me wonder these days - what is.
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