FAD – Fathers Against Discrimination a.s.b.l. “Both parents for All Children” has been created as a platform of dialogue to promote equal opportunities for both parents to care for their children, to ensure their well-being and to assure that children’s rights are respected in Luxembourg. As an association we believe a child should never be deprived of its natural human right to family life and equal access to both parents. We are also convinced that no one has the right to decide which of the parents’ love has more value to a child.

Considering the above, we seek equal treatment of both parents in the Luxembourg institutions and during custody proceedings in the family courts. We support the rights of fathers and mothers to equal parenthood and successful professional careers. We address the importance of family values promoting the positive impact a full and healthy family has on the upbringing of Luxembourg children.

We raise awareness that physical violence against children is not the only form leading to children’s suffering. Psychological abuse defined as a passive harm against a child can come in different shapes. Imposing pressure on a child forcing him or her to choose between parents leads to conflict of loyalty. Manipulation of one of the parents to withhold experiences or relationship with the other parent, necessary for healthy emotional development, can in severe cases lead to Parental Alienation (PA) and a drastic emotional abuse. Unfortunately, since the effects are not immediate, difficult to diagnose and often only detectable after years, psychological abuse is often overlooked. Yet, in terms of their severity, the consequences of emotional abuse are certainly comparable to the damage caused by physical violence.

Our goal is to bring attention to the outdated Luxembourg Family Law and violation of the natural rights of Luxembourg children after parents separation and during custody proceedings.

Despite changes in the Luxembourg Civil Code introduced on 1 November 2018, described and presented to the public as “revolutionary”, Résidence Alternée Égalitaire – Equal Shared Parenting is still not a rule and a starting point for custody proceedings and as such it is rarely introduced by the Luxembourg Family Courts. The legislators and judges in most cases remain immune to the evidence provided by over 40 years of empirical studies, scientific conclusions and consensus among internationally recognised psychologists confirming that Résidence Alternée Égalitaire – Equal Shared Parenting is the most effective model bringing emotional stability to children during separation and after divorce.

 Résidence Alternée Égalitaire after separation can and should be introduced in Luxembourg as THE DEFAULT LAW in the best interest of children. Equal Shared Parenting, an egalitarian model as standard with exceptions decided by the court.

The model may not resolve every issue parents deal with when separating but it protects the children by removing the possibility for either parent to use them as an instrument of blackmail or chantage. Behavior that in severe cases can lead to Parental Alienation (PA) and drastic emotional abuse of children.

The society has gone through significant changes in the last decades. The roles of a mother and father are no longer defined as they were in the 1950’s. Yet, there are hundreds of children and parents in Luxembourg and thousands across Europe whose rights are violated every year. Children are being separated by Family Courts and told it is in their best interest not to have equal access to both parents.

The Luxembourg government must find courage to set example for other members of the European community and put a stop to gender-parental discrimination in the Luxembourg Family Courts.

Our organization promotes gender equality of chance in all aspects of the Luxembourg society. We support the rights of fathers and mothers to equal parenthood and successful professional career. We address the importance of family values promoting the positive impact a full and healthy family has on the upbringing of children. We seek equal treatment of both parents during custody hearings in Luxembourg.

We ask for support and we reach out to all people of good will, especially to women of all ages, non-profit organizations, LGBTI, feminist groups, men, fathers and everyone who really cares for the well-being of the children.

We need support in urging the judges of the Luxembourg Family Courts to find courage to STOP introducing outdated doctrine and a template approach favouring one parent over the other without consideration for children and START introducing Résidence Alternée Égalitaire as THE DEFAULT RULE for all custody proceedings in Luxembourg.