Research · United Nations
The United Nations on custody, violence and “parental alienation”
In 2023 the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls reported to the Human Rights Council on how family courts handle abuse allegations.
What the source says
- The report, A/HRC/53/36, addresses the link between custody cases, violence against women, and violence against children.
- It describes family courts in several countries treating credible allegations of physical or sexual abuse as deliberate efforts by mothers to separate children from their fathers, often termed “parental alienation.”
- It examines how courts refer to “parental alienation” or similar pseudo-concepts while ignoring histories of domestic violence.
Our view
Mothers and fathers both report abuse. Whichever parent you are, reporting abuse should never be turned against you, and no parent should be labeled “alienating” for trying to protect a child.
Source
Alsalem, R. (2023). Custody, violence against women and violence against children. Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences. UN Human Rights Council, A/HRC/53/36, 13 April 2023.
More research
- Custody outcomes study
- World Health Organization
- Custody evaluators’ beliefs
- Children exposed to domestic violence
- Domestic violence and child trauma
- Child abuse statistics
- Children killed during custody disputes
- Kayden’s Law
- New York custody bills
This page summarizes published sources. It is not legal, medical or therapeutic advice.