Dr Stephen Baskerville 24th April 2007

President Elect Chris introduced Dr. Stephen Baskerville who is a professor at HowardUniversity and is affiliated with Childwatch in Bermuda.

Dr. Baskerville is President of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children.  He has written numerous articles, which have appeared in many magazines and newspapers.  He was brought to Bermuda by Childwatch to take part in "International Parental Alienation Awareness Day" activities. 

The organisation is working to help curb discrimination towards fathers in seeing their children during a divorce or separation.  He cited various US government practices which interfere in child custody cases, and cause widespread social chaos.  He believes it is necessary to have reforms of the custody laws.

He would like to see a system of shared parenting where both parents have joint custody and equal rights to their children.  He commented there was a strong correlation between growing up in a fatherless home and violent crime; gang activity; alcohol and drug abuse; poverty; child abuse; homelessness and poor academic achievement. 

He stated in the US the cost to society of divorce and family breakdown was estimated at $33 billion each year.   It is a strong belief of the group that each child has the right to have a relationship with both of his or her parents.  It is important to review laws to ensure that the needs of the children come first. 

The aims of Childwatch are to address issues pertaining to the unjust treatment of responsible and caring fathers in relationship to their parental rights over the welfare and upbringing of their children.  The group also want to improve child custody laws.  The group wish to stimulate positive change in Bermuda's laws and society's views on the rights of a father to actively share in the day to day rearing of his children and to be considered, in appropriate circumstances, as the primary caregiver. 

The website is www.childwatch.bm .