A thorn in our side: An introduction to post-separation domestic violence and co-parenting in Poland and Norway

Abstract

Family reunification is complex and perilous in the context of post-separation domestic violence (PSDV), and the safety and well-being of victims, who are predominantly women and children, are at significant risk. The presumption of contact between fathers and children post-divorce/separation, despite the documented risks of PSDV, raises concerns about the legal, institutional, and societal understanding. However, the topic is practically not discussed in Poland and Norway. The two states are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to gender equality, including the organization of family life, but both have gender-neutral DV laws and provisions. In this paper, the authors wish to challenge the prioritization of maintaining or rebuilding a relationship between a father and a child over reconstructing a mother-child dyad that has been actively undermined by an abusive father, and to suggest ways to address this problem in praxis.