(c) NZZ March 6, 2011. Katharina Bracher.
Non-partisan coalition puts pressure on the introduction of joint custody
Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga is once again threatened with trouble from the men's camp. After she announced the withdrawal of the bill for joint custody in mid-January, the men's associations protested with a vigil on Bundesplatz and 4.5 tons of paving stones, which they sent to the Minister of Justice by post. Now they are receiving support from the Federal Parliament. CVP National Councilor Reto Wehrli has launched a parliamentary initiative that calls for “joint parental custody as a rule” to be anchored in law. “Simonetta Sommaruga has a well-developed bill that she would just have to pull out of the drawer,” says Reto Wehrli. The fact that Sommaruga has now stopped the revision of the law does not show tact. The delay is unacceptable because a large part of Parliament had already agreed to his demand that in future both parents should take responsibility for the children after the separation.
It was Wehrli's postulate that got the ball rolling almost six years ago. In 2005, the National Council voted 144 yes to 36 no for his proposal and thus for shared parental custody. “Social acceptance of joint custody is present today,” concludes Wehrli. The Schwyz National Council still believes that the majority of parliament is on its side. According to Wehrli, the parliamentary initiative is supported by council members from all political camps. The Green National Councilor Alec von Graffenried has promised additional support. “After the session in the Legal Commission, I will suggest an initiative with the same demand,” says von Graffenried. He is confident that he will be able to win many women over to the cause.
With these two proposals from parliament, the pressure on the Minister of Justice continues to increase. The consultation on the proposal mainly took place during the term of office of Sommaruga's predecessor, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. The new head of department withdrew the proposal in January on the grounds that in addition to parental custody, questions of maintenance should also be clarified. Sommaruga decided that the situation of the parent who primarily looks after the child despite shared custody needs to be improved. According to current law, the person caring for the child must cover the shortfall if the income is not enough for two households. Today it is primarily women who make up for this financing gap.
The fathers' organizations cannot benefit from this connection between joint custody and maintenance issues and are increasing the pressure on the Minister of Justice. “We hold a monthly vigil until a sustainable solution is in sight,” says Markus Theunert from the men’s umbrella organization menschen.ch. The next fathers' vigil on Bundesplatz will take place on Monday, March 14th.
