Abstract
A recent BBC documentary by Ed Thomas – ‘Mums’ on the run: failed by the Family Court’ revealed the desperation of mothers who flee to Northern Cyprus in an attempt to safeguard themselves and their children. In doing so, they leave their family and friends, their homes and their jobs. Many end up in poverty,
trapped in the country they have fled to. They are criminalised, labelled as abductors. This article looks at what has gone so wrong in our courts that exile is seen as a solution. We consider both the court process and the wider context that
impacts on mothers and undermines their safety and their access to justice. We then consider what a safe and just Family Court might look like, drawing on existing [but under-utilised] recommendations and guidance, on examples of good practice, and on the experiences of domestic abuse victims themselves.
trapped in the country they have fled to. They are criminalised, labelled as abductors. This article looks at what has gone so wrong in our courts that exile is seen as a solution. We consider both the court process and the wider context that
impacts on mothers and undermines their safety and their access to justice. We then consider what a safe and just Family Court might look like, drawing on existing [but under-utilised] recommendations and guidance, on examples of good practice, and on the experiences of domestic abuse victims themselves.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 11-21 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Family Court Journal |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Dec 2023 |