Minister proposes abusive partners lose parental rights

 

Spain's Minister for Health & Equality, Leire Pajín, has spoken of her goal of bringing about a change to the law, thereby giving judges the power to stop abusive partners from having custody of their children.

Her comments were made in acknowledgement of today being the 'International Day against Domestic Violence'. "We cannot allow those who are violent or who kill to have custody of their children", she stressed.

So far this year 64 women in Spain have lost their lives at the hands of abusive partners.

The law in Spain currently allows for the denial of shared custody rights of children from the perpetrators of domestic violence, but does not make any such allowance when a mother dies as the result of her partner's violence. This essentially leaves custody in the hands of the father. The changes proposed by the Minister would also remove the rights of the abusor to inherit his dead partner's property.

"We need to keep working to make rid society of this scourge" she continued, "and to make sure that victims report violence against them." She stressed that it was important that women denounced violent behaviour against them, reassuring victims that they are not alone and that the country provides victims help to regain their self-esteem and confidence.