Press Cuttings

Letters
Monday February 9, 2004
The Guardian

I am one of many African British fathers who after relationship breakdown is forced to fight in the courts for legal acknowledgment as an equal parent. The irony is that the media relishes in painting a picture of irresponsibility by the men in my community. The truth is fathers like me are judged by a flawed court welfare system, where the presumption is that fathers are only entitled to occasional contact. So when us second-class dads are "allowed" to have our children stay over, they are legally seen to be visiting with mum's consent, instead of residing with an equal parent. Australian courts are in the process of recognising shared residence orders as the default. Sadly, in Britain, such a precedent is unlikely.

Toyin Agbetu
Ligali
London

Return to Press Cuttings index