Intimate Family Research Articles

National Borders among Families: Removal and ‘Bare Life’ in India

This paper is about the state-driven process of ‘migrant ‘illegality’ (Genova 2002) and its impact on the life of Bengali speaking residents in the Assam state of India. While the movement of people across borders between India and present-day Bangladesh has been historical and complex, this ethnographic work explores how the state-driven process of migrant illegality and the production of ‘bare life’ have disrupted intimate relations and family life among the migrant population in Assam. While the recent NRC (National Register of Citizens) update in Assam identified 1.9 million people as illegal migrants, there has been bureaucratic enactment of ‘migrant illegality’ by Assam Border Police for the last several years. The institutional procedures, court documents and narratives of the select cases of ‘detected’ as well as ‘detained’ residents from ethnographic fieldwork reveal how the absence of formal papers and errors in the family records, kinship relations and property inheritance among the poor migrant families transforms actual citizens to ‘illegal migrants’ in the bureaucratic manoeuvring and reduces them to their ‘bare life’. The paper also shows how prejudice, arbitrariness, and contradictions feed into the bureaucratic process and lead to intense crises among family units, as several migrant families have both Indians and alleged ‘Bangladeshis’ in their homes today. The paper argues that the major consequence of this state-driven ‘migrant illegality’ in the last two decades has been the creation of national borders among families, unsettling intimate relations and shared spaces.

"I Didn't Have a Choice": Experiences, Responses and Perceived Motivations for Reproductive Coercion and Abuse in Australian Women.

This study explored reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) experiences of community-based victim/survivors, their responses to RCA, and perceived motivations for RCA. One hundred and one female RCA victim/survivors completed an online questionnaire. Intimate partners, family, friends, cultural/religious leaders, and health professionals were RCA perpetrators. Victim/survivors' RCA experiences were heterogeneous, incorporating a range of pregnancy-preventing and pregnancy-promoting RCA tactics. Women's response to RCA depended on how it was experienced; victim/survivors were more likely to reassert control when RCA was verbal and not physical. Finally, control was the primary motivator for RCA, followed by contextual factors, drug use, and religion/culture.

Differences in Social Adaptation of Rural Children between Different Family Socioeconomic Status: The Coupling Effect of Family Intimacy and Social Support

This study analyzes the influence of family social-economic status on children's social adaptability in rural areas and analyzes its mechanism. Based on the survey data of rural children on social adaptation, this study examined the mediation effect of family intimacy and social support between family SES and social adaptation. Results: ① Children with different family socioeconomic status showed differences in family closeness, social support and social adaptation scores; ② Rural children showed a positive correlation between family socioeconomic status, social support and social adaptation(r = 0.178-0.62, P <0.001); ③ family closeness and social support played some intermediary role in family socioeconomic status and social adaptation, with the mediation effect values were 0.290 and 0.250 respectively;④ Family closeness and social support played a chain mediation role between family SES and social adaptation, with an effect value of 0.256. Under the objective conditions of rural families social and economic status, it is particularly important and necessary to promote the intimate relationship within families and strengthen the construction of social support network for rural children for their healthy growth and improve their social adaptability.

Validation of an Actuarial Instrument to Predict Repeat Family Violence for Frontline Police: Calibration, Discrimination and Classification Performance of the VP-SAFvR

Abstract Purpose Police are increasingly tasked with identifying, responding to, and preventing intimate partner and family violence (IPFV). Several police organisations have adopted validated risk assessment instruments to assist frontline police officers to assess and manage the risk of future IPFV. This paper reports a population-based evaluation of the predictive and discriminative validity of an actuarial risk assessment instrument, the Victoria Police Screening Assessment for Family Violence Risk (VP-SAFvR), used by frontline police officers in Victoria, Australia. Methods The entire population (n = 38,454) of family violence reports (FVRs) where police used the VP-SAFvR between 1 September 2019 and 31 March 2020 were tracked for 365 days to ascertain whether the VP-SAFvR was able to predict subsequent family violence and discriminate between cases with and without subsequent family violence. Calibration and survival analysis was performed on the instrument. Results Approximately 33% of the sample was involved in subsequent IPFV over the 12 month outcome period. In line with the development (McEwan et al., 2019) and validation (Spivak et al., 2020) studies of the same instrument, the results show the VP-SAFvR continues to provide adequate consistent discriminative and predictive performance across time. The AUC for repeat IPFV was 0.65, with the recommended threshold score of 4 (or above) identifying 75% of individuals involved in repeat family violence and correctly screening out approximately 50% of non-repeat cases. Conclusions The paper extends the previous research on VP-SAFvR by providing some indication that the tool is well-calibrated. Incidence curves show the largest increase in repeat family violence among those scoring above threshold occurs in the first 90 days post index. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

Muslim Women's Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Meta-Ethnography of Global Evidence.

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a form of interpersonal violence perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as coercive and controlling behaviors. DVA is associated with severe physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences for the victims. Muslim women, like women from all communities, experience DVA in its various forms, however, they may experience additional barriers when seeking support. This review was conducted using a meta-ethnography approach to synthesize published qualitative evidence on Muslim women's perspectives and experiences of DVA. A systematic search of global evidence in six electronic English databases including Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ASSIA identified a total of 33 qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis of these studies revealed four major themes: the experience and impacts of abuse; risk factors contributing to abuse; help-seeking; and the coping strategies of Muslim women. These findings emphasize the importance of religion not only as a risk factor for violence and a barrier to help-seeking but also as a coping strategy for dealing with violence. The findings offer important insights for policymaking and in supporting these women more effectively.

The questions on violence (FOV) tool for interpersonal violence inquiry in Swedish healthcare settings – evaluation of content validity, face validity and test-retest reliability

BackgroundPrevious research indicates that routine inquiry or screening conducted by healthcare providers may significantly increase the identification of interpersonal violence. There is a lack of comprehensive instruments to routinely assess patients about interpersonal violence and violence against children in the household. The purpose of this study was to assess the content validity, face validity and reliability of the Questions on Violence (FOV) tool, an instrument specifically designed for routine inquiries about interpersonal violence in healthcare settings within the Swedish context.MethodsThe content validity, face validity and reliability of the FOV instrument was assessed through (1) a content validity index with six experts in the field of intimate partner violence, (2) cognitive interviews with nine patients recruited from a primary healthcare facility, and (3) an evaluation of the test-retest reliability based on responses from 37(50.0%) university students. The intraclass correlation coefficient, model 2.1, was calculated to assess the degree of correlation and agreement between the two measurements.ResultsCalculations based on the content validity index indicated that five out of seven items had excellent content validity (≥ 0.78). The average content validity index of included items was 0.88, which is slightly below the recommended threshold for excellent content validity. The results based on the cognitive interviews revealed that participants found the seven items to be relevant and easy to understand. Overall, the participants agreed that the concept of ‘close relationships’ primarily encompassed intimate partners, family members, and close friends. The value of the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85 (0.77–0.91; CI 95%), indicating good reliability with an interval of good to excellent test-retest reliability.ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that the seven-item FOV instrument has good content and face validity as well as good to excellent test-retest reliability. The current study provides healthcare professionals with a short yet comprehensive instrument for identifying patients who have experienced or perpetrated different forms of interpersonal violence.

I am just a sister: a field study on sister as mother role from Guangdong, China.

This study aimed to explore sister-as-mother (jieximuzhi) roles in families after the implementation of China's universal two-child (quanmianerhai) and three-child policies (saihaizhengce). By conducting in-depth interviews with 10 sisters from Guangdong Province who fit the sister-motherhood profile, this study investigated their motivations for taking on maternal duties, the characteristics of sister-motherhood roles, and the impact of these roles on the sisters. The results revealed that in families with two or more children, sisters passively assume mother-like responsibilities primarily due to biological age differences and parental neglect, as well as their personal initiative to a certain extent. Additionally, the impact of sister-motherhood roles on sisters includes aspects such as time pressure, financial strain, and increased family intimacy. This study elucidated the phenomenon of sister-motherhood roles that emerge with changes in family structure in China while recognizing the diversity of women's roles within the family, appreciating the challenges faced by sisters in sister-motherhood roles, and providing insights into family labor division and education models.

Comparative Study and Analysis of Social Structure and Cultural Values in Chinese and Korean Movies

A comparative study of social structure and cultural values in Chinese and Korean films reveals the unique perspectives and profound differences between the two countries in reflecting social reality and conveying cultural values in their films. Chinese movies tend to depict harmonious and intimate family relationships when showcasing family structure, emphasizing the importance of the family as an individual's emotional support and spiritual sustenance. Korean movies, on the other hand, focus more on showcasing the complexity and conflicts within families, reflecting social reality and the depth of human nature through the entanglements among family members. This difference reflects the different emphasis on family values and social values between China and South Korea. In terms of social class, Chinese movies often focus on the survival status and struggle process of the lower class society, showcasing social injustice and contradictions by telling stories of ordinary people. This kind of attention reflects the humanistic care of Chinese films towards vulnerable groups and their profound reflection on social issues. Korean movies, on the other hand, tend to reveal and criticize the power and corruption of the upper class, reflecting the dark side of society by depicting social phenomena such as collusion between politics and business, and power and money transactions. This difference reflects the different orientations of social class concepts and social responsibility between China and South Korea.

Interpersonal Violence Against Indigenous Sámi and Non-Sámi Populations in Arctic Sweden and the Mediating Effect of Historical Losses and Discrimination.

The prevalence of interpersonal violence has been reported at higher levels among Indigenous than non-Indigenous populations worldwide, but has not been thoroughly investigated among the Sámi population in Sweden. The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) the prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual violence and violence by intimate partners, family members, acquaintances, and strangers among participants identifying as Sámi or Swedish, (2) whether reporting experiences of historical losses and discrimination mediated the anticipated association between identifying as Sámi and reporting experiences of violence, and (3) whether background characteristics were associated with reporting experiences of violence. Cross-sectional questionnaire data collected in 2021 for the "Health and Living conditions in Sápmi" study were used. All adults in an arctic region in Sweden were invited to participate (response rate: 41%). Respondents self-identifying as Sámi (n = 375; 24.7%) or Swedish (n = 1,144; 75.3%) were included in this study. Sámi respondents of both sexes more often reported violence by an acquaintance or stranger. Likewise, more Sámi than Swedish women reported family violence (16.4% vs. 9.2%), but there was no difference concerning intimate partner violence (13.3% vs. 15.4%). Mediation analyses revealed strong positive indirect effects of historical losses and discrimination on the different types of violence. Being female was the strongest predictor of reporting intimate partner violence, and younger age was associated with violence by all perpetrators except family members. In conclusion, interpersonal violence was more often reported by Sámi respondents, but the association was explained in full by experiences of historical losses and discrimination. The results underline the importance of a life-course and even intergenerational and historical perspectives when investigating interpersonal violence.

Deaths Related to Domestic Violence in Washington State.

Domestic violence (DV; including intimate partner and family violence) is associated with heightened lethality risks, yet limited research has comprehensively assessed the connection between DV and fatal violence considering both homicides and suicides. Understanding the fatal consequences of DV can point to missed opportunities to support individuals and their families. To assess the proportion of violent deaths that were connected to DV and describe contacts with the legal system or social services prior to each DV-related fatality. This cross-sectional study used quantitative and qualitative data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for all individuals who died by homicide or suicide in Washington from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Analyses were conducted from August 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. A multipronged approach was used to assess DV history using existing NVDRS variables, leveraging data from prior review of NVDRS death narratives, applying a validated natural language processing tool, and linking related deaths. Domestic violence was recorded as yes or no, but the decedent's role in the abusive relationship (ie, experiencing or enacting DV) could not be differentiated. To describe system involvement prior to each death, keyword searching and hand review of NVDRS death narratives were used. A total of 7352 intentional violent deaths (1192 homicides [16.2%]; 6160 suicides [83.8%]) with known circumstances were recorded in Washington during the study period. Of these, 948 deaths (12.9%) were connected to DV (624 [65.8%] among males; mean [SD] age at death, 45.3 [19.2] years), including 588 suicides (62.0%) and 360 homicides (38.0%). For 420 DV-related deaths (44.3%), there was evidence to suggest that the person who died or their intimate partner(s), family, or cohabitants had prior contacts with the legal system or social services. Specifically, 318 records (33.5%) mentioned prior contacts with law enforcement or the criminal legal system (eg, prior 9-1-1 calls, criminal convictions), and 225 (23.7%) described engagement with social services or the civil legal system (eg, civil protection order, divorce, or child custody problems). In this cross-sectional study, 12.9% of violent deaths in Washington were connected to DV. The findings suggest that more resources are needed to support law enforcement, court professionals, and social services specialists to proactively identify and refer families to wraparound supports before the situation can escalate to a fatality.

‘Honor’ and Its Upholders: Perpetrator Types in ‘Honor’-Based Abuse

ABSTRACT ‘Honour’-based abuse (HBA) studies tend to focus on survivors’ lived experience, with less emphasis on perpetrator characteristics. This study aims to investigate whether various HBA characteristics correlate with different types of perpetrators, based on their relationship with survivors. Savera UK, a charity specialising in HBA and harmful practices, provided 107 cases which were coded for 66 variables. Three main perpetrator types were identified: 1. “Intimate Partner”, 2. “Family” and 3. “Intimate Partner and Family”. Chi-squared analyses were conducted and odds ratios of any significant associations were calculated. The distinct profile of survivor, perpetrator and abuse characteristic for each type was presented. The average number of abuse characteristics reported for the “Intimate partner and Family” perpetrator type was 19, much higher than the other two sub-samples. The implications for professional practice are discussed, highlighting the importance of increasing understanding into ‘honour’-based abuse to improve investigative, safeguarding and prevention interventions.

The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence Policing and Family Surveillance in Large U.S. Counties

The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence Policing and Family Surveillance in Large U.S. Counties

Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: a Transformative Approach to Biodiversity Legislation in Nigeria.

Indigenous communities worldwide have cultivated and preserved invaluable ecological knowledge on biodiversity conservation long before the formalisation of scientific inquiry. Rooted in familial intimacy with nature and an acute ability to discern subtle micro-changes, these communities profoundly understand the patterns and processes shaping their natural world. In Nigeria, a nation boasting diverse indigenous peoples and rich biodiversity, this unique knowledge system finds limited recognition within the current legal framework on biodiversity conservation. In response to the persistent decline of biodiversity within and beyond protected areas in the country, the paper argues for a shift grounded in integrating indigenous ecological knowledge(I.E.K) into the existing laws and policies on biodiversity conservation. The findings of this paper demonstrate the need for a transformative change- one demanding a fundamental reorganisation in the design, implementation, and enforcement of biodiversity policies in the country to prioritise the rights and agency of indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity policies. It submits that by acknowledging and incorporating indigenous knowledge into legal frameworks, the country can effectively combat biodiversity loss and foster a more inclusive, sustainable approach that aligns with the vision of the country and the global conservation goals.

Relationship between dyadic coping, resilience and fear of childbirth in expectant couples: An actor-partner interdependence model approach

BackgroundFear of childbirth is a common concern in pregnant women and their spouses due to the unpredictability of the process and outcome of a delivery, which results in adverse effects on mental health, birth outcomes and family intimacy. However, there is a lack of studies that explore the influencing factors of fear of childbirth among expectant couples from a dyadic perspective. The aim of this study is to explore the correlation of dyadic coping, resilience and fear of childbirth in pregnant couples and to construct an actor-partner interdependence model to verify dyadic effects. MethodsThis cross-sectional survey included 420 couples and was conducted between November 2022 and March 2023 in the obstetric department at two hospitals in China. Convenience sampling and an actor-partner interdependence model was used. FindingsThe prevalence of fear of childbirth among pregnant women and their spouses is 37.4 % and 33.1 %, respectively. Women's resilience and dyadic coping had a partner effect on spouses’ fear of childbirth, in addition to an actor effect on their own fear of childbirth. Spouses’ resilience and dyadic coping had only actor effects on themselves, and no partner effect was found on the pregnant women. ConclusionWomen's fear of childbirth was positively associated with spouses’ fear of childbirth. Interventions for fear of childbirth should include improving resilience and enhancing dyadic stress support and coping. This study provides empirical evidence for future clinical research and interventions on the psychological status of pregnant women and their partners during pregnancy.

Client experiences with "Dynamic Choice Prevention," a model for flexible patient-centred HIV prevention delivery in rural Eastern Africa.

Identifying the optimal approaches to offering HIV prevention to meet the needs of those at risk is a high priority, particularly given the expanding toolkit of biomedical HIV prevention options. An ongoing study in rural East African communities evaluated the uptake of choices in product, testing mode and location of care delivery through a structured patient-centred HIV prevention delivery model. In this qualitative study, we sought to understand clients' experiences of this "dynamic choice prevention model" (DCP) and highlight pathways of action to inform HIV prevention delivery models. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted from November 2021 through March 2022 with a purposively selected sample of n = 56 participants in DCP trials (across outpatient departments, antenatal clinics and community settings), and n = 21 healthcare providers (total n = 77). A seven-person multi-regional team translated and inductively coded transcript data. We used a framework analysis approach to identify emergent themes. Individuals taking up HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reported feelings of relief, liberation from fears of acquiring HIV and satisfaction with being able to take action despite partners' behaviours. Couples used a range of approaches afforded by the study to persuade partners to get tested and opt for PrEP. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) use was less common, although women welcomed it in the event of sexual coercion or assault. Participants discussed switching from PEP to PrEP after familiarizing themselves with usage and ascertaining ongoing risk. Participants felt respected by providers, trusted them and appreciated being able to contact them directly for telephone support. Prevention uptake was hindered by stigma, limited experience with and knowledge of prevention methods, gendered and generational power dynamics within intimate partnerships and families, and negative perceptions of methods due to the products themselves. Participants anticipated long-acting injectable PrEP could solve their challenges regarding pill size, daily pill burden and the likelihood of unwanted disclosure. Diverse preferences and barriers to uptake of prevention require a choice of HIV prevention options, locations and delivery modalities-but in addition, flexible, competent and friendly care provision is crucial to promote uptake. Helping clients feel valued, and addressing their unique needs and challenges, enables their agency to prioritize their health.

The relationship between sleep disturbance and aggressive behaviour among community-dwelling schizophrenia patients: a moderated mesomeric effect model

ObjectiveSleep disturbance is the most common concern of patients with schizophrenia and can lead to a poor prognosis, a low survival rate and aggressive behaviour, posing a significant threat to social security and stability. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of depression in the relationship between sleep disturbance and aggressive behaviour in people with schizophrenia living in the community, as well as the regulatory role of family intimacy and adaptability. These findings, in turn, may provide a theoretical basis and constructive suggestions for addressing the physical and mental health problems of these patients.MethodFrom September 2020 to August 2021, a convenience sampling method was used to select schizophrenia patients from the community attending follow-up appointments at the Fourth People’s Hospital of Pengzhou City, China. The researchers conducted a survey in the form of a star questionnaire. The survey included questions about general demographic data and disease-related questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the revised Chinese version of the Modified Over Aggression Scale (MOAS), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, Second Edition. FACES-II and SPSS 21.0 were used to organize and analyse the data.ResultsA total of 818 schizophrenia patients living in the community participated in the survey, and 785 valid questionnaires were ultimately collected, for a response rate of 95.97%. The results of multivariate analysis indicated that sex, number of psychiatric medications used, outpatient follow-up, history of hospitalization for mental disorders and sleep disturbances were factors influencing aggressive behaviour. Depression played a partial mediating role between sleep disturbance and aggressive behaviour, and the indirect effect size was 0.043 (57.33% of the total). In addition to sleep disturbance, family intimacy (β=-0.009, P < 0.01) and adaptability (β=-0.145, P < 0.001) can significantly predict depression.ConclusionThe findings indicate that sleep disturbance in schizophrenia patients in the community is a risk factor for aggressive behaviour, and depression plays a partial mediating role in the relationship among sleep disturbance, aggressive behaviour and family intimacy. In addition, adaptability plays a regulatory role in the relationship between depression and sleep disturbance.

Of Bombs and Bonds: Healing the War-Fractured Internally Displaced Families through Therapy

The article examines the relationship dynamics among families who were uprooted from their traditional communities because of conflict in Marawi City in the southern Philippines. The study specifically explores the areas of family communication, family intimacy, and family conflict domains in households of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Data were drawn from 266 IDP marital couples through an assisted survey. Through statistical comparisons, the study was able to establish that the frequency and quality of communication and intimacy patterns fell while family conflict increased. A t-Test also indicates the decreased trajectory of the quality of familial relationship in displacement compared to prior displacement. These results underpin the fact that war harms family harmony. The study argues that the government, through their social welfare offices, being at the forefront of social care intervention, should consider providing family therapy as a specific assistance to IDPs. More than ensuring a strengthened family bond, the benefit of undergoing family therapy is vital because it may have implications for the pace by which IDP families build back better. Future studies may explore the effectiveness of family therapy intervention to strengthen its place in the social services arena in the context of internal displacement.

Family cohesion and quality of life significantly affecting personality changes in adult epilepsy patients: a case-control study

ObjectiveThe goal of epilepsy treatment is not only to control convulsive seizures but also to improve the quality of life of patients. This study aimed to investigate personality changes and the risk factors for their development in adult epilepsy patients.MethodsA case-control study in a Class III, Class A hospital. The study comprised 206 adult epilepsy patients admitted to the Neurology Department at the First Hospital of Jilin University between October 2019 and December 2021, while the control group consisted of 154 community volunteers matched with the epilepsy group based on age, sex, and education. No additional treatment interventions were determined to be relevant in the context of this study.ResultsThere is a significantly higher incidence of personality changes in epilepsy than in the general population, and patients with epilepsy were more likely to become psychoticism, neuroticism, and lie. Epilepsy patient’s employment rate and average quality of life score were significantly lower than that of the general population and had strong family intimacy but poor adaptability in this study. There are many factors affecting personality change: sleep disorders, economic status, quality of life, use of anti-seizure drugs, family cohesion and adaptability. The independent risk factors were quality of life and family cohesion.

Effect of family intervention on relapse rate of Chinese patients with alcohol-dependent.

This study explored the impact of a family intervention on the relapse rate of Chinese patients with alcohol dependence. A total of 151 male patients with alcohol dependence who were discharged from the Substance Dependence Department of the Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital from January to December 2020 were selected. They were divided into the control (n = 73) and experimental (n = 78) groups. Patients in both groups received routine alcohol cessation treatment. Moreover, patients in the experimental group were followed up by a professional psychiatrist to carry out individual family intervention. The Family Function Rating Scale (FAD), a Self-made general information questionnaire, and the Chinese version of the Family Intimacy and Adaptability Scale (FACESI-CV) were performed. Re-drinking rate and readmission rate were assessed. Family intervention could reduce relapse rate (31, 39.74%) and rehospitalization (27, 34.62%) compared with the control group. After family training, FAD factor scores were improved in the experiment group in comparison with the control group. Family training improved communication (18.2 ± 3.7), role (20.8 ± 2.5), emotional response (10.8 ± 1.8), emotional involvement (13.7 ± 1.2), behavioral control (19.8 ± 1.2), and overall functionality (23.5 ± 2.1) in the experiment group in comparison with the control group. After family training, intimacy (70.5 ± 8.7) and adaptability (64.1 ± 6.9) in the experiment group was higher than in the control group. After family intervention, Michigan Alcohol Dependence Scale (MAST) (9.21 ± 0.68) and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) (80.32 ± 4.47) in the experiment group were higher than the control group. Family intervention for families of patients with alcohol dependence can improve their family function, increase their family intimacy and adaptability, and reduce the rate of relapse.

Losing sight of the abuse: how and why women’s and children’s rights are violated in child contact decisions after intimate partner violence in Europe

ABSTRACT International human rights law sets out the right to life and freedom from torture and ill-treatment. This includes the positive obligation of states to prevent, protect and punish acts of private individuals that threaten the life and limb of another person. Permeating through many areas of law, this duty of due diligence is particularly important for women and children who require protection from abuse perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence details these obligations, including in family law. Based on the work of the convention’s independent monitoring body (GREVIO), this article offers a categorisation of factors and mechanisms that thwart women’s and children’s rights in family law proceedings, resulting in unsafe child contact regulation after intimate partner violence. It shows the shared nature of these factors across several European jurisdictions and places them in context with the interpretative work of international human rights bodies and the European Court of Human Rights. Situating the discussion in the context of growing anti-feminist movements seeking to expand patriarchal notions of family authority, it argues for an understanding of family law processes as a setting for human rights violations.