Family related news came from around the world and included: a push for a wider definition of family in South Korea; a strong stand against child marriage in West Africa; and a concern in Spain that algorithms, which are being used to identify repeat domestic violence offenders, are not foolproof. Also in the news was a move by conservatives in the United States to end no-fault divorce and a reminder to divorcing parents to focus on their children’s mental health.
National Child-Centered Divorce Month brings awareness to the ideal and most effective way parents can handle divorce when it comes to their children’s mental health. People have always been and will continue getting divorced, however there is a clarion call for parents to help support their children in the best way.
Amelia Nierenberg, The New York Times, July 3, 2024
The president of the West African country of Sierra Leone signed a law on Tuesday that banned marriage for children aged 18 and younger and would impose steep fines on adult spouses. The move was a victory for activists who had long fought to eradicate the widespread practice. The new legislation goes further than many other similar laws in Africa, experts said, by penalizing people who enable the marriage — like the parents, the officiant and even the wedding guests — in addition to the husband.
Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, July 7, 2024
Some conservatives, including high-profile commentators and Republican state lawmakers, have set their sights on ending or restricting no-fault divorce laws. These laws are currently on the books in all 50 states. No-fault divorce allows anyone who wants to end their marriage to do so without blaming their spouse for doing anything wrong, like adultery or domestic abuse. The no-fault laws resulted in a decrease in: female suicide; domestic abuse of wives; and homicide of women by intimate partners. But critics of no-fault divorce say it undermines the sanctity of marriage and hurts men.
Adam Satariano and Roser Toll Pifarré, Photographs by Ana María Arévalo Gosen, The New York Times, July 18, 2024
Spain has become dependent on an algorithm to combat gender violence, with the software so woven into law enforcement that it is hard to know where its recommendations end and human decision-making begins. At its best, the system has helped police protect vulnerable women and, overall, has reduced the number of repeat attacks in domestic violence cases. But the reliance on VioGén has also resulted in victims, whose risk levels are miscalculated, getting attacked again — sometimes leading to fatal consequences.
Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, July 15, 2024
A recent survey by Pew Research Center found that only 39 percent of registered U.S. voters say “society is better off if people make marriage and having children a priority,” and a majority say society is “just as well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children.” Discomfort with pushing kids to follow a particular life plan was a common thread in all of my conversations with parents. Many spoke about their role as being not to tell their kids how to lead a good life, but to help them figure out what sort of life they want and how to achieve it.
Choe Sang-Hun, The New York Times, July 18, 2024
Hwang Sunwoo and Kim Hana, who are single and live together, describe themselves as “a DIY family” and say South Korea’s laws should reflect the alternative unions that many of its people have chosen. Ms. Hwang and Ms. Kim, who are not romantically involved with each other or anyone else, realized how South Korea’s social support system excluded unmarried cohabitants and is built around the traditional idea of family with many government benefits — tax, housing, insurance and other incentives — tailored for families. They are advocating for a change.
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