Page 163 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 163
ld’s best interest, including removing her from the mother’s home if neces- why (not to) ignore the role of fathers? 161
sary.
Mr. Sturmia complained that he had been unable to fully exercise his
contact rights for several years, despite the Italian court orders that should have
helped to set the conditions to effectively secure the above mentioned right.
The ECHR observed that there had been a violation of Article 8 of the Europe-
an Convention on Human Rights, and sentenced Italy to pay 15,000 euros to
Mr. Strumia.
Conclusions
Conclusions are twofold. On the one hand, the scientific literature seems to
point clearly to the importance of father involvement in children’s develop-
ment. Father involvement should be encouraged and promoted at all levels. On
the other hand, in the case of Italy, the reality is often very different. The cases
reported for Italy and sentenced by the ECHR show that under circumstances
of conflict, fathers’ rights are often violated, and best interests of children are
not secured by the authorities. This clearly points to the fact that (in Italy as
elsewhere in Europe) policies for a better recognition of women in different as-
pects of social life including work are not matched by appropriate solutions for
a better involvement of fathers in family life.
All this is rather disappointing. Should the lack of such solutions persist
in the coming years, children would continue to be in a position of disadvan-
tage. This should be prevented.
References
DEL BOCA, D. and PASQUA, V., 2010. Esiti scolastici e comportamentali,
famiglia e servizi per l’infanzia. FGA Working Paper nr. 36.
GUIDORZI, R.E., 2017. L’affidamento ingiusto del minore. Rome: Dike Giuri-
dica.
LAMB, M.E. and TAMIS-LEMONDA, C., 2004. The Role of the Father. In:
LAMB, M.E., ed. The role of the father in child development. Hoboken, NJ:
John Wiley & Sons.
MACDONALD, K. and PARKE, R.D., 1984. Bridging the gap: parent-child in-
teraction and peer interactive competence. Child Development, 55(4), pp.
1265-1277.
MARTIN, A., RYAN, R. and BROOKS-GUNN, J., 2010. When fathers’ sup-
portiveness matters most: Maternal and paternal parenting and chil-
dren’s school readiness. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(2), pp. 145-155.
MCDOWELL, J.D. and PARKE, R.D., 2009. Parent correlates of children’s peer
relations: an empirical test for a tripartite model. Dev. Psycol., 45(1), pp.
224-235.
POLONIATO, A., 2014. L’affidamento delle “palle al piede”. Vicenza: Caosfera.
sary.
Mr. Sturmia complained that he had been unable to fully exercise his
contact rights for several years, despite the Italian court orders that should have
helped to set the conditions to effectively secure the above mentioned right.
The ECHR observed that there had been a violation of Article 8 of the Europe-
an Convention on Human Rights, and sentenced Italy to pay 15,000 euros to
Mr. Strumia.
Conclusions
Conclusions are twofold. On the one hand, the scientific literature seems to
point clearly to the importance of father involvement in children’s develop-
ment. Father involvement should be encouraged and promoted at all levels. On
the other hand, in the case of Italy, the reality is often very different. The cases
reported for Italy and sentenced by the ECHR show that under circumstances
of conflict, fathers’ rights are often violated, and best interests of children are
not secured by the authorities. This clearly points to the fact that (in Italy as
elsewhere in Europe) policies for a better recognition of women in different as-
pects of social life including work are not matched by appropriate solutions for
a better involvement of fathers in family life.
All this is rather disappointing. Should the lack of such solutions persist
in the coming years, children would continue to be in a position of disadvan-
tage. This should be prevented.
References
DEL BOCA, D. and PASQUA, V., 2010. Esiti scolastici e comportamentali,
famiglia e servizi per l’infanzia. FGA Working Paper nr. 36.
GUIDORZI, R.E., 2017. L’affidamento ingiusto del minore. Rome: Dike Giuri-
dica.
LAMB, M.E. and TAMIS-LEMONDA, C., 2004. The Role of the Father. In:
LAMB, M.E., ed. The role of the father in child development. Hoboken, NJ:
John Wiley & Sons.
MACDONALD, K. and PARKE, R.D., 1984. Bridging the gap: parent-child in-
teraction and peer interactive competence. Child Development, 55(4), pp.
1265-1277.
MARTIN, A., RYAN, R. and BROOKS-GUNN, J., 2010. When fathers’ sup-
portiveness matters most: Maternal and paternal parenting and chil-
dren’s school readiness. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(2), pp. 145-155.
MCDOWELL, J.D. and PARKE, R.D., 2009. Parent correlates of children’s peer
relations: an empirical test for a tripartite model. Dev. Psycol., 45(1), pp.
224-235.
POLONIATO, A., 2014. L’affidamento delle “palle al piede”. Vicenza: Caosfera.
