Panel: Mothers should no longer be automatic custodial parent
Official: There's not a single country in the West that still adheres to the clause affording mothers automatic custody."
By Ruth Sinai Tags: Israel Justice Ministry KnessetDivorced mothers are no longer to receive automatic custody on children under the age of 6, a public committee plans to recommend in the coming months to the Justice Ministry.
Should the recommendations of the committee - which was appointed by former Justice Minister Tzipi Livini - be accepted, they could lead the way to the annulment of the current law, which has remained unchanged for the past 45 years.
The committee, headed by Professor Dan Schnit, former Head of the School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University, proposes to replace the current clause of the custody law. Under the new clause, both parents will automatically receive joint custody on children under the age of 6.
The recommendations were scheduled to be submitted this fall, but the committee is falling behind schedule because of internal disagreement between members, according to an official who is involved in the committee's work.
The official nonetheless said he believed the committee will recommend to change the current letter of the law. The official told Haaretz that the committee will hand in its findings and recommendation by the end of the year.
"There is not a single country in the Western World that still adheres to the clause affording mothers automatic custody," the official said. "The clause stems from the antiquated and classical family model where the mother takes care of the children, while the father goes off to work."
Some professionals whose work pertains to the committee believe that even if the recommendations of the committee are adopted, the courts would still be inclined to rule in favor of mothers, and award them more custody.
Na'amat women's organization, which is represented in the committee on reforming Israel's custody law, is opposed to changing the law.
"The law won't make more fathers suddenly take more responsibility over their children," says Attorney Talya Livni, the organization's chairwoman. "This sort of change will require a gradual social shift. The revision of the law would, however, expose women to more extortion from men, who might threaten to file for custody unless their ex-wives agree to make material concessions."
Presiding in the committee are experts and professional from many area, including Justice Ministry personnel, high-ranking officials in social services, religious experts academics, women's rights activists and parent organizations.
Those in favor of shifting to a joint-custody framework, however, think that offering divorced fathers more automatic custody could serve to encourage more fathers to assume a more active parenting role. They also hope the partnership between parents could serve to reduce the potential for conflicts within the family.
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Mothers do NOT necessarily make good mothers; some do NOT even want to be mothers. Many children today are made out of "fashion", a "habit", "tradition" as a "must-have", for "money", since the wealthiest nations give much money and other benefits to families with children. I have met many women, who are completely unfit to motherhood and some, who have told me that they do NOT like children. Then again I have met many "natural-born" father-types. Therefore I am very glad to hear about this reform, which hopefully will do justice to children, finally! There is one more thing I hope would be considered: the child's own opinion. The child should also be heard and be given freedom to choose, especially children from dysfunctional families: there are fathers/mothers with good jobs and lots of money to spend, but with NO love and NOTHING to give to the child emotionally and mentally, which should be the PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS!
This truly shows how a big organization which provides legal services and references to female lawyers in the divorce business starts to have interests other than those of their clients (women) and their children. The fact is that social research shows clearly that when divorced fathers are legally partners in parenthood, they are much more likely to stick around and be a part of the child's life. The law sets expectations. Unlike those divorced fatthers that are reduced to being visiting "uncles" by naamat lawyers and judges, 50% of those fathers lose contact with their kids, joint custody fathers stick around and their kids do better in life. It is much better for the children and it makes life much easier for the mothers. This is proven social research, not gut feelings or personal experience. We need real equality between parents, nothing more nothing less. Naamat wants more.
Anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with Israeli social workers will realise their terrible bias regarding this issue, and Israeli law allows for no appeal against their work and no questioning of their dubious methods. It's about time that the law gave fathers some serious ability to defend their interests.
Great great news! I can't believe the discrimination against men in Israel. I was attached to and cared for my child when I was married have been fighting to see more of my child since I got divorced 10 years ago. I am tired of being looked at like a second-class parent when in many ways I am better than my ex. I know the same is true for a couple of other divorced fathers. New research over the last 20 years shows that children of divorced families where the fathers are active in their upbringing do just as well in later life as children from non-divorced families. On the other hand, where mothers are given sole posession, the fathers become alienated and the children have a much higher chance of falling into hooliganism, crime, drugs, divorce, unemployment. As a group, they fall short in almost every category. Ironically, researchers find that in states that have introduced automatic joint custody/posession, the divorce rate is dropping! It's a step in the right direction!!!
How dare they make such a generalization,there are still many of us stay athome full time moms in this country! I have been and still am the one who takes care of my children when they wake up in the morning, I see them off to school,make them lunch when they come home, run with them to the Dr when needed etc,my kids are 12&17! Granted my 17yr old is a special needs child,and I am married but I feel strongly when the woman is a full time stay at home mom who devotes her entire day to her kids then she should be granted automatic custody of the child! I know that I am with my kids when they are healthy, I nurse them when they are sick,whereis my husband during all this, either working or sitting on his rear infront of the computer or TV resting! So Don't generalize about mothers, most of us are devoted to our kids much more than our spouses are!
The bra-burning lesbians finally got the equality they dreamed of in so many spheres. But guess what? They don't want to extend the same equality to men in areas traditionally dominated by women. This proves that all along ther agenda wasn't equal rights, but was in fact the destruction of the family. The remark from the self-appointed guardian of womens' rights about men taking more rsponsibility for their children was sickening. I have a stressful job in hi tech and I work 10 hours days. But I make sure I get to work by 6.30am each day, so I can play with my son for at least 3 or 4 hours each evening, and then I bath him, read to him, and put him to bed. I'd dearly love to see some of these so-called "career women" devoting that kind of time to their children. These people are just embittered, washed-up old hags.
The courts will have to weigh each case on it's individual merits. Let's face it, a father who did nothing when they were a family isn't likely to get proactive after a divorce. But there are fathers who are incredibly bonded to and involved in their childrens lives, and they, as fathers, should have more access to their children. Something which the children will benefit from as well.