Trial Highlights Ongoing Gross Injustices

FAMILIES APART REQUIRE EQUALITY (FARE)

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Media Release - 29/10/01 - For immediate release

Trial highlights ongoing gross injustices

"The trial of an Auckland father scheduled to take place in the Waitakare (Henderson) District Court tomorrow highlights ongoing gross injustices, so it is no surprise that there will be protests outside", FARE spokesperson Darryl Ward said today. He was referring to an Auckland father who is facing a possible gaol term for refusing to attend an 'Living without Violence' course".

"New Zealand has an epidemic of false or frivolous accusations being made in the Family Court for the sole purpose of denying children the right to love and care from one of their parents, usually their fathers. The victims of such false or frivolous accusations are often forced to attend 'Living without Violence' or similar courses, which are akin to both the Spanish Inquisition and the Chinese Cultural Revolution".

"The attendee is made to accept that they are an 'abuser', and then be subjected to what is termed 'counselling', but which in reality consists of being subjected to intensive re-programming with extremely radical ideology. Failure to attend such brainwashing sessions usually results in a criminal conviction. And nor would this be an occasional miscarriage of justice, it is daily reality".

"This father's 'crime' was to request shared parenting at a mediation conference, and to leave this conference when it became obvious that it was nothing short of a judicial farce. Yet like many New Zealand fathers he has the stigma of being falsely labeled as violent".

"His situation was typical of many disenfranchised fathers in New Zealand, and we applaud him for having the courage to stand up to the Family Court of Injustice. Thus it is no surprise that there will be protests outside the Courthouses at Waitakare and other places around the country", he concluded.

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Darryl Ward may be contacted on 4-473 1353 during the day, or 025-230 1667 or via taliesin@paradise.net.nz

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