19th May 2008 

Child’s right to a father may be stripped away by IVF Bill

 

• The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill could deny children the right to know their father.

 

• Families Need Fathers (FNF) calls for MPs to use their free vote to prevent fatherhood being further undermined.

 

The importance of a father’s role is being diminished by the Government’s plans to remove the necessity for IVF clinics to ensure that a child has a father involved in their upbringing.

 

In response, a group of MPs have tabled an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which would require doctors providing such treatment to continue considering ‘the need for a father’. The Government are allowing MPs to vote with their conscience on the amendment, to be discussed on Tuesday afternoon (May 20^th).  

Of the current proposals, which would replace ‘the need for a father’ with ‘the need for supportive parenting’, Iain Duncan Smith said "This move by Gordon Brown has huge symbolic significance. It will not make any practical difference to lesbian and gay couples but, if passed, it will send a dismissive message about the family and about the importance of fathers in the upbringing of children. We should be including fathers in, not including them out."

Families Need Fathers are concerned that lawmakers have lost sight of the child’s best interest, the paramount principle in such matters, by removing the right of a child conceived through IVF treatment to have a relationship with their father.

FNF Chair, John Baker, said “We believe this proposal sends out an extremely worrying message that makes fathers redundant in the upbringing of children. In an environment where significant societal problems are caused by the lack of a father in a child’s life, the Government should be making every attempt to consolidate a father’s position, rather than weaken it.”

-  ENDS –

Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

 

For comment or information please contact:

Nick Barnard, Director of Communications 07979 206 384

John Baker, FNF Chair 07881 644 917

Jon Davies, FNF CEO 07976 935 986

Becky Sibert, Policy & Information Officer 020 7613 5060

 

Please see Families Need Fathers ‘programme for change’ Father’s Day Manifesto at

http://www.fnf.org.uk/publications-resources/articles/fathers-day-manifesto