Thread by @DrWilliams

Thread: We need to address the myths surrounding women in the family law court. The myth that women Make Up abuse to obtain “strategic advantage” in court & that kids tell health care workers they were abused bc their mother is “coaching them” firstly- @MattsJane @AbigailBoydMLC

https://twitter.com/SistersinlawAu/status/1373244702430957568

2/ We cannot tell women they need to leave their violent homes but then accuse them of lying the moment they try. We understand women cannot leave without the family law court. You cannot simply pick up & leave without court orders @Drhutch2011 @BethanyinCBR @kjoh7876

3/ So when we have rates of child abuse & family violence as high as we do- we have to EXPECT that the court is full of family violence...which it is.
@NTVorg @melwojtas @angelo_virgona @ANROWSCEO @MSMWatchdog2013 @RonniSalt @LouiseKNewman @ManjulaOConnor @AustralianLobby @dvnsw

4/ So once again #BelieveWomen - the research demonstrates that there’s less than 2% of women who lie in court- and 16% of men. Making assumptions about lying needs to stop with everyone involved in this process. @petaswarbrick @deniseshrivell @ABC @AlboMP @moonscapecat

5/Children, more than anything need to be #believed the consequences of children being disbelieved is not a small thing- teaching kids we don’t trust them when they report abuse has consequences that last a lifetime- they learn not to disclose @BraveheartsInc @BlueKnotOrg

6/They learn not to trust anyone, they stop disclosing. They start to wonder if they are telling the truth too. Kids stop believing anyone can help them, incl the ones that love them. To create this sense of mistrust is one of the biggest cruelties we inflict on kids as a system

7/To teach kids we think they are liars, that we don’t trust them or their mothers is our countries biggest shame & scandal. There are millions of survivors of abuse in Australia. Why do we assume they are lying? What is the advantage of lying? @marquelawyers @CCCBuryStEd

8/Family court costs families hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ppl treated as criminals for wanting safe homes. Being yelled at, threatened, mocked &demeaned by perpetrators, judges & lawyers reflects the abuse already experienced at home. It needs to stop now. @custodypeace