The opportunity to use Scotland's Family Law Bill to safeguard children living with domestic abuse must not be missed, warn campaigners.
The warning came as the Scottish Parliament started detailed scrutiny ofthe Bill last week. Scottish Women's Aid is concerned that the Billstill contains no legislative safeguards for children in relation topost-separation contact order.
"We want an amendment that says the judge must be satisfied that anycontact order will not result in domestic abuse against either parent orchild," said Helen Coady, children's policy officer at Scottish Women'sAid.
Deputy Minister for Justice Hugh Henry continues to insist that thewelfare of children is paramount, but Coady said this is notsafeguarding children enough. The charity's figures show courts grantcontact in 56 per cent of cases where domestic violence is an issue.
- www.safecontact.org.uk.
