Statement Fathers4Justice & Amnesty International 28/8/14
Background
On 20th May 2014, Fathers4Justice wrote to Amnesty International concerning David Norgove’s role as Chairman of the trustess for the Amnesty International UK Charitable Trust as shown here:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/amnesty-international-uk-charitable-trust#.U3sPmRaUrBW
https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-norgrove
David Norgrove is also chairman of the Family Justice Board which produced a report in 2011 that said fathers had no rights and should have no rights in respect of maintaining a relationship with their children after separation.
We argued that the position adopted by their chairman was in breach of Article 16, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 8, European Convention on Human Rights.
Article 16, Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. Article 8, European Convention on Human Rights. Right to respect for private and family life. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.
As such we believed his role as chairman of the Family Justice Board was incompatible with that of his role with the Amnesty International UK Charitable Trust.
Amnesty International responded by saying:
David has been an exemplary chair…the report’s (the 2011 Family Justice Review) primary finding was that the welfare and best interest of the child is paramount and naturally that chimes with Amnesty’s values. Amnesty UK is therefore content that David’s work with the Family Justice Board is compatible with our objectives and we consider the matter now closed.
Fathers4Justice offered to meet with Amnesty International and present the facts of their case to them. Amnesty International declined and said that the matter was closed.
Fathers4Justice Response 28/8/14
Tony Farnfield
Corporate Services Director
Amnesty International UK
[email protected]
Tony,
Thank you for declining to engage on what we consider to be the greatest social justice and human rights issue of our time in the UK.
The position Amnesty International has adopted mirrors that of so many charities and NGOs who have turned a blind eye to the abuse of children, especially in secret family courts – secret courts which Amnesty clearly approve of.
To argue that the work of the chair of your trustess, David Norgrove, an individual who supports secret family courts, is somehow compatible with the objectives of Amnesty International, is a disgrace.
David Norgrove has opposed equality between parents, said fathers ‘deserve no rights’ and then ignored cases of systemic child abuse presented to him by Fathers4Justice in 2011.
We believe David Norgrove’s actions as chair of the Family Justice Board are a clear and flagrant breach of Article 16, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 8, European Convention on Human Rights.
Yet your email states, “Our vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.”
How can you reconcile your chairs position and actions with your vision?
The UK government – advised by Mr Norgrove – has refused to recognise fathers in law or include a provision for shared or equal parenting which is a clear human rights violation of the 4 million children growing up in the UK without a father.
As evidenced in Rotherham, we have a shameful history of failing children in this country and your ‘exemplary chair’ will be judged in time for his role in ensuring millions of children have been forcibly separated from their fathers in secret courts.
Even if Mr Norgrove ‘retires’ in October 2014, do not think this will excuse the appalling conduct of Amnesty International in this matter. You are as morally culpable and complicit in the continuing abuse of children in secret courts and the cover up surrounding these social justice issues, as is Mr Norgrove.
It makes a mockery of the work I did as a voluntary campaign co-ordinator for Amnesty, is a betrayal of the principles the organisation was founded upon and leaves an indelible stain on your reputation.
Matt O’Connor
Founder, Fathers4Justice
COMPLAIN TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TODAY AT
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmnestyUK On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmnestyUK Contact there office in Shoreditch: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/contact#.U9IpBxaUqCU
