Feminism is lobbying to repeal the joint custody law

Marcel Mantero Di Stasio has been a children's rights activist for several years. In 2023, the Shared Custody Law was passed, a true milestone in children's rights that allows any child or adolescent of separated parents to maintain contact with both parents through a judicial process.

Shared custody, or co-parenting responsibility, allows the minor to remain in contact with both parents and, in fact, to live half the time with each one.

The battle for the Shared Custody Law lasted for years, and the families who fought for its approval were victims of attacks, defamation, and outrages from feminist organizations and left-wing political groups, which launched a campaign of fear, terror, and lies against the bill.

After its approval, radical feminist organizations, subsidized by the State, that is, by the taxes of all Uruguayans, continue to viciously attack the regulation, spreading falsehoods and defaming its main activists.

This is the second part of the interview with Mantero.

Do you think there are political groups or organizations that threaten the Shared Custody Law?

We know that radical feminist NGOs will do everything possible during this five-year term to try to get the political system to repeal or modify the law.

We also know the influence they have on left-wing legislators, the mainstream press, and some sectors of traditional parties, who keep dreaming that someday these people will vote for them.

Others believe that causes that go against the gender agenda could cost them votes, which is a big mistake. There have already been statements from the current Minister of Public Health, Cristina Lustemberg, attributing high levels of violence against children to Shared Custody.

This is something absolutely far-fetched, it isn't supported by any specific data, it doesn't align with the reality of international scientific studies on Shared Custody, which clearly show that when children have more eyes to care for them, risks decrease.

It is precisely in single-parent households where children are more isolated and more likely to be mistreated.

Do you believe that under the current government the law could be modified?

We hope not, that the lack of a majority for Frente Amplio in the House of Representatives won't allow this to become a reality. We hope we are heard, that common sense is applied, and that there are no setbacks in children's rights.

They have the right to enjoy both parents and both families after a separation, and the law must be clear in defending and guaranteeing this.

We also know that more legislation is needed to protect children, for example from parental interference (parental alienation), which obstructs relationships and causes children to reject one of their parents and the rest of their family, without real reasons.

One of their parents is spoken of badly, they are frightened, pressured, and blackmailed to take one side of the conflict, and to be used to hurt the other person or to isolate and permanently distance them from that person.

This is child abuse and brings very negative consequences for children from every point of view.

It is also necessary to thoroughly modify the disastrous Law 19.580 on Gender Violence. Personally, I believe that law shouldn't exist, since it's not right to legislate according to a person's sex.

There are currently two bills in the Senate committee awaiting discussion. They are somewhat brief and fall short of what should be changed, but it's better than nothing and it's a start.

Putting the discussion on the table and debating without ideology should be imperative. Children can't wait, nor can equality before the law.