In the judges words - family court proceedings bias

[TheJudgesWords]

This is not my campaign, came across it via social media.

Some of the quotes at the bottom of the page are absolutely disgusting.

Sexism truly alive and well in our family courts.

"This campaign exposed the dehumanising language and attitudes that victims and survivors of abuse have endured from judges and magistrates in family court proceedings. Riverlight conducted research through collecting first-hand accounts from survivors who recount appalling statements made by those intended to uphold justice and protect the vulnerable. The findings from this campaign are deeply disturbing. Examples include judges minimising or dismissing abuse as not being "that bad," insinuating that domestic violence is a "50/50 thing," and even stating that a victim had “goaded” the perpetrator into strangling her.

Many of the judges' statements displayed an alarming tendency to cast doubt on survivors' experiences, question their credibility, and shift blame onto them for the abuse they suffered. Survivors were admonished for actions like being in a shelter to escape abuse, accused of being spiteful towards the dad for breastfeeding, and even for exhibiting symptoms of trauma like PTSD. These kinds of victim-blaming attitudes from the very authorities tasked with ensuring justice and protecting the vulnerable enable a perpetuation of abuse and a culture where survivors' experiences are systematically dismissed or minimised."

www.riverlight.org.uk/campaign

Thanks for sharing @TheJudgesWords I'm a victim of DV and also of 7.25 years in the Family Courts. I'm a (scrupulously honest) senior professional. I did report some of the violence to the Police, but not much (most victims don't, I felt sorry for him and thought that it was complex at the time - it really wasn't). He was, and probably still is, a violent, drug-addict, alcoholic. But he looks good in a suit and is middle class. I can honestly say that, for me, the Family Court was utterly horrific. Insanely misogynistic, didn't give a stuff about violence against me or against DD. I provide shedloads of evidence, which was immediately discounted, while he was treated as a Prophet of God. One of my witnesses was even rebuked by the judge for being a single mother (she is married and did tell him that, while staring at him with blank horror). These views had very real consequences for my daughter who was compelled to endure her father's abuse and violence for many more years. Please support this if you can and please boost this thread. It's women and children who (again) are suffering the results of this.

@Igmum I'm sad to say that my friend has recently experienced exactly this in the past few months. The judge bent over backwards for her abuser and he disregarded video, verbal and witnessed evidence and evidence supported by professionals.
He was enabled to continue to use his young teen daughter in his power game, insisting on visits when she didn't want them out of fear for him, making her already fragile mental health even worse.
It's a disgusting state of affairs and well overdue sunlight and reform.

So sorry for your friend @Realityisreal and sending hugs 🫂. It really is horrific. Father's rights are absolute and override any attempts at safeguarding

Yep, I found that we are expected to be grateful for any scraps they throw our way - financial, caring for children. And then they're put on a pedestal as a 'great dad' for the little they do contribute. By lawyers and judges alike. And yes, they do see some extreme cases but surely it's not a case of 'there's worse men out there so this guy isn't THAT bad'.