Ten Reasons Why the Human Rights Council Must Reject the Special Rapporteur’s Report on Domestic Violence

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Mike Buchanan

Telephone: +44 7967 026163

Ten Reasons Why the Human Rights Council Must Reject the Special Rapporteur’s Report on Domestic Violence

July 12, 2023 – The Special Rapporteur’s A/HRC/53/36 report, “Custody, Violence Against Women and Violence against Children,” has faced severe criticism in recent weeks. And for good reason:

Makes a mockery of human rights by disregarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provisions that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex (1).
Pretends that domestic violence is not an equal opportunity problem that affects both men and women (2).
Denies the reality of hundreds of studies conducted around the world that affirm the existence of parental alienation (3).
Discounts the fact that parental alienation has been recognized by numerous laws and court decisions in countries around the world (4).
Ignores the long-lasting anguish experienced by child-victims of parental alienation (5).
Covers up the fact that children who reside with single mothers have a higher risk of suffering fatal child abuse (6).
Negates the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which provides that “Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will.” (7)
Issues over-wrought claims that serve to weaken due process and predispose to totalitarian policies (8).
Relies on unverifiable submissions that are listed as “confidential,” or were submitted by stealth organizations with no web address or contact information.
Excludes the dozens of submissions that documented the pernicious effects of parental alienation (9).
Undermines public confidence in the integrity and honesty of the policy-making process of the U.N. Human Rights Council (10).

If adopted, the Special Rapporteur’s proposals would cause irreparable harm to the human rights of children and parents. Ambassadors should categorically reject the unscientific claims of “Custody, Violence Against Women and Violence against Children.”

The Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance – DAVIA — consists of 99 member organizations from 33 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. DAVIA seeks to ensure that domestic violence and abuse polices are family-affirming, science-based, and sex-inclusive. https://endtodv.org/davia/

Citations: