BackThe Ombudsman, Soledad Becerril, has called for promoting the abolishment of visits to their children by individuals charged with gender violence in order to avoid possible risks. In her opinion, the best interests of the minor child and the child’s right to be listened to should take precedence in all decisions taken in this matter.
This is one of the recommendations that Soledad Becerril has made to the Minister of Justice, Rafael Catalá Polo, to bolster the protection of the under-age children of victims of gender violence.
She has also recommended that individualised examination of the visitation schedule for each minor child affected by a family situation of gender violence should be guaranteed by law.
Furthermore, she has asked for the Parental Co-responsibility bill to be sent as soon as possible to the Lower House in the Spanish Parliament for it to go through the parliamentary stages.
The Ombudsman has asked for the view of the Ombudsman’s Office to be taken into account in the study “Listening and the best interest of the minor child” and that of the United Nations which, in a recent report by its Committee on the subject of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW), has recommended to Spain that “past records of domestic violence be taken into account when stipulating custody and visitation rights with regard to offspring”.
Source: Defensor del Pueblo, SPAIN
