Law must change to ensure children can still have a relationship with family members after divorce

I WELCOME a debate held recently in parliament, seeking to establish a child’s right to a relationship with wider family, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, in case of parental divorce.

For some close family, the loss of contact with a young relation through their childhood can be devastating.

Everyone will know stories of aunts actively involved in the upbringing of nephews and nieces, who suddenly lost all contact, grandparents whose grandchildren were their pride and joy who suddenly were denied any relationship with them at all and other wider families, where links have been cut.

It is heartbreaking for all concerned, causes a huge sense of loss to the adults involved and, worst of all, deprives the child of someone to provide them with love and care. The current system makes it extraordinarily difficult even for many parents in case of divorce to maintain the relationship with their children they would wish. For grandparents and others, it can be impossible.

Much is made of children’s rights, but the basic right to the love and affection of a close family member is, in too many cases, not taken into practical consider- ation when establishing, or implementing, post-divorce arrangements.

It is welcome that the Ministry of Justice will consider this issue and it is essential we in Northern Ireland are not left behind.

During the current deadlock the ground must be prepared to ensure we can implement measures ensuring children have the right to a continued relationship with family members who have been so central to their upbringing.

PAULA BRADSHAW (ALLIANCE) MLA for South Belfast