Children’s right to have two loving parents after their separation

This petition is for our daughters, for all children missing their fathers, and the sad dads (and mothers) who are suffering from the socially perpetuated uncritical assumption that mothers would be naturally and culturally predestined to be the sole caregiver for a couple's child. Although a family's benefit from father's involvement in child rearing has been demonstrated, mothers who are trying to fulfill social expectations to be a single mom and even "maternal gate-keeping" have persisted to be a controlling practice hindering the participation of the children's fathers. Children and fathers in many cases/societies don’t have a legal voice at all. Countries are still failing to uphold a UN convention setting out children's rights to maintain relationships with both parents.

Separation or divorce is the result of problems between parents. It is not the children's fault. But it does affect children a lot. Therefore it is about protecting the rights of children to have two loving parents fully involved in their lives wherever possible, to the benefit of the children, their families, and wider society. Children have the right to meaningful contact with both parents. Although 50/50 time share enforcement may be unpractical, to maintain an emotionally close relationship a dad’s involvement in every-day activities and bedtime rituals are required that go beyond a couple of hours of playtime once or twice a week.

Without fathers having done something wrong, the socio-cultural environment and some mothers themselves can be non-supportive regarding equality in parenting, even where mutual parenting would be logistically feasible. For children at any age, anger, anxiety, and sadness can carry the risk to lead to depression and developmental problems.

But still, there is a "motherhood mystique" and a related one-sided pressure on single mothers to deprive their children of their loving father. It is important to strengthen all involved parties in the acknowledgment of facts against the established misinformation that is still guiding public opinion and policies occurring children losing their father's care.

With your signature, you help to address the problematic to policy makers around the world. Thank you very much!