- ‘Misguided campaign’ is being waged to outlaw parental alienation - January 31, 2024
- There is no moral equivalency between Israel and Hamas - November 14, 2023
- Why the Gaza war matters to the legal profession and law schools - November 7, 2023
By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • Toronto family lawyer Gene C. Colman says he is honoured to be taking part in a two-day conference on men’s experiences with violence and victimization, starting Sept. 15 in Toronto.
“A conference like this, looking at the position of men in the legal system and their experiences with victimization, is unprecedented,” says Colman, principal of the Gene C. Colman Family Law Centre.
“As it is with any legal conference, it will involve academics and lawyers,” he says. “But what makes it noteworthy is that organizers have also invited lay people. These are people for whom family violence has likely been an issue in their lives or the lives of others close to them.”
Presenters from six continents will take part
According to the conference program, the International Interdisciplinary Conference on Fatherhood and Men’s Experiences with Violence and Victimization offers 60 presentations from people from 21 countries and regions across six continents.
“This conference will bring international scholars from various disciplines, service providers, community leaders, private practitioners, and community members to examine the various perspectives on fatherhood, family dynamics and relationships, men’s experiences with violence, and victimization,” the program notes. “Discussions will also include legal and community support for men.”
“I believe it will be an electrifying and edifying experience for everyone involved,” Colman tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “Very few conferences bring together these demographics. I would encourage anyone attending in person to take the time to interact with members of the other groups.”
The conference is held at the Toronto Holiday Inn Downtown Centre. People can register to attend in person or by Zoom.
Conference snubs political correctness
“This will be a significantly noteworthy event, and I thank Prof. Susan Chuang of the University of Guelph for organizing it,” says Colman. “After all, it is not politically correct to look at men and the issues they face.”
He notes that at both the provincial and federal levels there are government resources that (rightfully) address the status of women and the special challenges that they face.
“But men also have unique needs,” says Colman. “This is a demographic that is largely ignored.”
- MPs urged to hold free vote on shared parenting
- The courts demand full financial disclosure in family law cases
- Results from paternity tests may not affect support obligations
He says professionals will address the issues that many men grapple with in their own lives.
“I am sure they will feel validated and will realize they are not the only ones dealing with these problems,” Colman says. “The academics and practitioners giving the presentations understand the pain men are feeling after being victimized by a system that frequently does not adequately recognize the challenges that men face.”
Expanded definition of ‘family violence’
On Friday, Sept. 16 from 1:30 to 2:50 p.m, he and family lawyer Brian Ludmer will share a time slot, with Colman addressing the newly expanded definition of “family violence” in the Divorce Act.
“Family violence is defined in the Act as any conduct that is violent or threatening or that constitutes a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour or that causes that other family member to fear for their own safety or for that of another person,” Colman says.
“The myth is that men are the ones that use coercive and controlling behaviour through various nefarious means. And sure, some men do that,” he says. “But the use of those words – ‘a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour’ – shows that the classic feminist approach to family violence likely had a big impact on the drafting of this legislation.”
However, if anyone looks at court cases involving parental alienation, the majority of the alleged alienators are female, Colman says.
“That alienation, used to excise children from their fathers, is also characterized by a ‘pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour,’” he says. “But when anyone points that out, there is invariably a backlash from feminists, who say that claims of parental alienation are just ruses that men conjure up to distract from their own abusive behaviours.
‘Feminists are disenfranchising female victims of parental alienation’
“By fighting against parental alienation, feminists are disenfranchising female victims of parental alienation,” Colman says, adding the wording about a “pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour” can be used in ways that the drafters of the legislation never anticipated.”
He says he will also address how family violence is potentially an important factor in determining the best interests of the child when it comes to decision-making responsibility and parenting time (formerly known as custody and access).
“The best interests of the child have always been the most important objective in these proceedings,” Colman says. “But since the definition of family violence is so broad, practically any untoward behaviour by a parent could potentially be captured here.”
Cancelling a credit card can be family violence
He gives an example of a man who cancels his spouse’s credit card or a man who smashes a door, even when the spouse is not around.
“Those acts could be considered family violence under the Act,” Colman says.
He urges anyone, especially men involved with violence and victimization issues, to register for the conference. He will attend virtually due to concerns about COVID-19.
“I am looking forward to this conference. I just wish I could go in person and feel the energy in the room,” Colman says. “All segments of society should be treated fairly and equitably and I hope that this conference will be a step toward that.”
