So reads the headline in the Tagesanzeiger. Following it is an article about an unbelievable story.
Michèle Binswanger tells the story of a father who is no longer allowed to see his children. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case, but the circumstances in this family are particularly unusual.
Unfortunately, this is an example of how decisions, once made, are consistently enforced. It is also an example of how one-sided certain members of the authorities act, how little understanding is shown to the other parent, and – there's no other way to put it – how unprofessional the process was and still is.
And the result? Did we protect the child's welfare? Hardly. The paramount principle of the child's welfare appears to have received little attention here.
Unfortunately, this is by no means an isolated incident; we are aware of numerous similar cases. Therefore, the VeV has long been calling for quality controls and uniform standards at authorities and courts, for legal representatives, and other involved agencies. Only in this way can we ensure that such stories become a thing of the past.