Alienating fathers from their children not only damages the child but also harms the rest of society, according to an American professor.

Dr. Stephen Baskerville joined Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler, Shadow Minister Suzann Holshouser and ChildWatch President Eddie Fisher in a forum on absent fathers on Wednesday night.

The public meeting, at Bermuda College, aimed to raise awareness of the repercussions of cutting off fathers from their children.

‘Social and Economic Benefits to Communities with Shared Parenting’ stressed how parental alienation is a form of child abuse.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month on Bermuda and the forum also marked International Parental Alienation Awareness Day.

Dr. Baskerville was invited to speak as an international authority on the politics of divorce, custody and family courts in the United States.

He is President of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children and wants to see a system of shared parenting where both parents have ‘joint custody’ and equal rights to their children.

Dr. Baskerville said there was a strong correlation between growing up in a fatherless home and violent crime; gang activity; drug and alcohol abuse; homelessness; poor academic achievement; poverty and child abuse.

In terms of its wider impact on society, it resulted in higher taxes to fund rising law enforcement, education and healthcare budgets.

He said the stereotype of fathers abandoning their children was unfair.

“Fathers are excluded from their children and are discriminated against in courts and then plundered by child support agencies,” said Dr. Baskerville.

In the US the cost to society of divorce and family breakdown was estimated at $33.3 billion each year.

“The family is the most basic unit of civilisation and undermining this institution is bound to have repercussions throughout society,” said Dr. Baskerville.

“Obviously shared parenting is better for children. It reduces acrimony.”

Minister Dale Butler also joined in the discussion, saying: “There is a perception among the Bermuda community that all single fathers are deadbeats. It’s a perception because I always know it’s not true.

“Many single fathers are good fathers, they make every effort to make their children feel needed and valued, although I also know there are fathers and mothers out there who are not involved in the lives of their children.

“It is these fathers we need to reach out to, to get them back into the fold.” Mr. Butler said: “This ministry believes strongly that every child has the right to have a relationship with both of his or her parents. We are continuing to review all our legislation to ensure that the needs of children are put first at all times.”

Shadow Minister Mrs. Holshouser added: “There is nothing more damaging to a child than when the family group is being torn apart.

“It is important that we begin to address the concerns that are driven by the divorce rate.”

Mr. Fisher, president of ChildWatch — a charity which campaigns for fathers’ rights — said: “To alienate a child from one of the two most important people in a young impressionable life is child abuse.”