Landmark repeal of the presumption of parental involvement

“Repealing the presumption of parental involvement will end the continuation of harm so many children experience. Without the presence of my protective parent, the harm I experienced was amplified, and left me feeling alone. For too long, the voices of children and young people have been silenced under the rights of parents to contact – this step finally begins to make a practical change in the recognition of children as victims in their own right.”
— Person with lived experience

This is a monumental change. For years, the presumption of parental contact has shaped family court decisions and been weaponised by perpetrators. Too often, professionals felt bound to “both parents are best,” even when that was not safe. That must stop. 

Repealing the presumption takes power away from perpetrators and puts children’s safety and wellbeing first. It means decisions start with the question: what keeps this child safe today and for the rest of their lives? 

This is a moment to mark – made possible only through the tireless efforts of charities, survivors and bereaved families who never stopped advocating for children and campaigning for change. Their courage moved the mountain. Thank you.

Now we must work together to ensure children are recognised and protected as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. 

What must happen now – we have to work together:

• Commit to culture change across the family justice system. Values, beliefs and behaviours need to shift so safety is never compromised for contact. 

• Equip every professional. Mandatory, trauma-informed domestic abuse training co-created with survivors, and clear guidance that looks for reasons a child may not be safe to have contact with a parent. 

• Deliver confident, clear, evidence-based recommendations and court decisions. No child should be left in an unsafe situation because of outdated assumptions. 

• Invest in specialist support. Sustainably fund services for adult and child victims, including Children’s Idvas and safeguarding pathways for the whole family. 

• Improve processes and transparency. Safer, simpler forms and hearings that reduce opportunities for post-separation abuse, while protecting children’s privacy. 

• Align legislation. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill must recognise children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right and clearly set out the safeguards they must receive. 

How we’ll help

We are working with Cafcass to transform beliefs, assumptions and decisions that leave children and adult victims in harmful and dangerous situations, and to highlight and embed the exceptional practice we see every day. This can only happen alongside similar changes across the Family Justice System, crucially the Judiciary. We will keep pushing for survivor leadership, confident professional practice and decisions rooted in evidence, not presumption.