MEDIACOM-RELEASE-NAT-NETWORK-OF-STOPPING

PARENTING - A RESPONSIBILITY NOT A RIGHT

The National Network Stopping Violence Services supports the decision of the Government not to support the Shared Parenting Bill.

`We support legislation which puts the best interests of the children first' said Paul Prestidge, Executive Officer. `This bill concentrates on the rights of non-custodial parents and only pays minimal attention to the rights of children.'

`We support the idea of both parents taking equal responsibility for their children. This goes much further than looking at the relatively few custody arrangements that the Courts are called to determine.

The recent Time Use survey published by Statistics NZ and the Ministry of Women's Affairs shows that, in families with two parents and children under 18, women spend one-third more time looking after the household than men, and men spend 44% more time than women on sports and hobbies.

Stopping Violence Services provides programmes that support men to be active and responsible parents. `Too often we hear men talking about their rights as a father. We want them to look at parenting as a responsibility - one that takes commitment and where their own interests often come second.' said Mr Prestidge.

The shared parenting bill only looks at one small part of the matter - we support the intention of the Government to hold a wider review of child welfare issues.

ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF STOPPING VIOLENCE SERVICES (NZ) INC

RELEASED VIA MEDIACOM