(c) NZZ Online 8.4.2011
The National Council's Legal Affairs Committee is increasing the pressure on Sommaruga.
The federal government should revise parental custody laws as quickly as possible. This is the demand of the National Council's Legal Affairs Committee in a motion. The committee is also responding to demands from men's organizations.
(sda) The National Council's Legal Affairs Committee is increasing pressure for a swift revision of parental custody law. In doing so, it is adopting demands from men's organizations.
The Legal Affairs Committee intends to submit a motion requesting the Federal Council to propose a revision of parental custody and the legal relationships between parents and children, as announced by the Parliamentary Services on Friday.
Two-part proposal demanded.
In a first phase, the Federal Council should quickly enshrine joint parental custody as the standard in law. The Federal Council should base its work on the preliminary work carried out based on the consultation draft. Only in a second phase should the Department of Justice develop new regulations for maintenance and custody rights of unmarried, separated, or divorced parents.
Eliminating Inequalities:
According to the Legal Affairs Commission, the reform should focus on the best interests of the child and a cooperative approach from parents. Existing inequalities should be eliminated.
The commission, which recommended the motion to its council for adoption by a vote of 15 to 2 with 3 abstentions, called on the Federal Council to address the proposal immediately. With its decision, the commission increases the pressure on Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga to resolve the custody issue quickly.
Roundtable discussion on Friday:
The Justice Minister announced in mid-January that she intended to include new regulations on child support issues in the draft legislation on joint custody. This expansion was intended to improve the situation of the parent who primarily cares for the child. She indicated that a statement on the matter would be forthcoming in 2012.
Representatives of fathers' organizations harshly criticized this decision and even organized a vigil in front of the Federal Parliament building. Sommaruga subsequently invited representatives of these organizations to a meeting. Next Friday, she will host a roundtable discussion on these issues with representatives from various mothers', fathers', family, and child protection organizations.