Single and estranged fathers can rest assured their interests are being taken seriously.

Last year Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler met with Childwatch, an organisation dedicated to equality for single and estranged fathers, where they presented him with 30 issues to be addressed.

The result was a commissioned report titled 'Mama's Property, Daddy's Child', which includes 23 recommendations and was given to Mr. Butler on Thursday by Rodney Smith, a consultant to the Minister.

"Now that I have received Mr. Smith's report, we have even more work to do," Mr. Butler said.

"In my very brief review of the report, I was very pleased to see that the use of mediation has received a great deal of support. In fact the report recommends that the courts be given the authority to mandate mediation where it is appropriate.

"It is apparent that if parents can settle disputes via mediation rather than having to resort to the courts, everyone — the mother, the father and especially the child — benefits."

Earlier this year, Childwatch president Eddie Fisher called for Bermuda to follow Australia and ditch courts in favour of impartial mediation.

"Last year the courts recommended 200 couples to mediation," noted Permanent Secretary of Social Rehabilitation Kevin Monkman.

"What they want is to have it mandated in the legislation; right now it's voluntary."

He added: "There is debate because the courts are biased towards the mothers, so it seems like it's the mother's property, but the daddy's child."