The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will conclude its work in March 2026 ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election. While it will continue to meet, the Committee has agreed it will not consider petitions submitted after 10 October. This is to ensure all petitions currently in the system can be considered before the next Scottish Parliament election. It is also unlikely that the Committee would be able to schedule and meaningfully progress petitions submitted after 10 October before the election. Contact the Committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot for more information about the petitions process.
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Closed petition PE2057: Promote shared parenting and prevent the separation of children from their parents
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to:
ensure the frequency and duration of parental contact is equal;
promote the use of parenting agreements;
require that evidence of accusations from one parent to another are provided within 14 days of any civil action; and
raise public awareness of the importance of both parents in a child’s life.
Previous action taken
I have contacted George Adams who has advised that I should start a petition.
Background information
The purpose of this petition is not to take any of the necessary protection away but to prevent the abuse of the current systems that are knowingly abused to alienate children and keep them away from their parents.
Both parents have an equal responsibility and right to be involved in the upbringing of their child and should be encouraged to participate fully in their child's life even if this is done separately. Parents should be encouraged to have a meaningful relationship with their child and to share equally in the responsibilities and joys of parenting unless it is contrary to the best interests of the child.
Prima Facie can be used as the method to prevent a parent form being with their children, because court can take a very long time this can and, in my experience, will cause alienation of the child. Forcing a short time period would help to prevent the abuse of the current system and I hope help stop solicitors who may take advantage of the current systems to protect children.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
160 signatures