Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

DIVORCE Mediation often turns blind eye to domestic violence

Patricia Wynn Davies
Thursday 26 June 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Mediators and welfare officers working with separating and divorcing parents urgently need to review their methods for identifying victims of domestic violence, according to research supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The study warns that women are at risk of intimidation by violent former partners, during the mediation process, which is designed to help couples reach agreements over money, matrimonial homes and children.

But one of the researchers, Dr Marianne Hester, of the School for Policy Studies, at the University of Bristol, said: "Our survey found that many mediators are tending to minimise the existence and impact of domestic violence.

"Those who were least likely to screen for domestic violence were most likely to allow mediation to go ahead, with potentially dangerous consequences." Patricia Wynn Davies

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in