Amended legislation allowing duped fathers to recover child support money from dishonest mothers in cases of false paternities has been recommended to Government.

The Ministry of Social Rehabilitation revealed the recommendation yesterday, after an extensive report on the benefits of shared parenting, commissioned by Government, was unveiled.

Now, the Ministry is "seriously" considering the implementation of several recommendations contained in the report, called "Mama's Property, Daddy's Child," which was written by Rodney Smith. Father's rights groups, ChildWatch, Father's Resource Centre and Justice for Men, were the main contributing organisations.

On the issue of fathers recovering payments under the law if it's determined the child in question is not theirs, Minister of Social Rehabilitation, Dale Butler acknowledged the occurrence of these sorts of circumstances in Bermuda. He explained: "It was a concern expressed to us. There are fathers who have agreed that they have made significant payments for a child which they were told was theirs, only to discover years later, it was not their child.

"They would like to know what type of recompense there could be. We were asked to examine whether there could be some type of recompense to that father who told it was his child but later learned otherwise, either through DNA evidence or an admission."

Most notably, ChildWatch has been one of the most active organisations which have called on legislators to adopt similar laws to that of Denmark, which recently passed a shared parenting law.

Edward Tavares, co-founder and treasurer of ChildWatch praised Government for recognising the important role of fathers, which he said the group has long been calling for.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Mr. Tavares pointed out he had not read the entire report, but added: "I'm pleased at the possibility some recommendations will be implemented.

"It's what the rest of the world is doing, we've been calling for it for years – I've been talking about it for 17 years – we want any amended legislation to be family-oriented not adversarial.

"The ancient mindset that only a mother can raise a child is wrong that's why we're pushing forward seminars to help educate the public on this issue.

"Studies have shown that in the eyes of the child, the parent without custody is often viewed as an uncle or aunt instead of a parent, due to visitation arrangements."

ChildWatch is holding its second series of free educational programmes, themed "Why Children Need Both Parents in Separated Families", with the first taking place on November 21 at St. Theresa's Cathedral Hall.

Its focus will be "What Happens to Children and Their Families". The December 5 seminar will centre on "Victims of Separated Families – the Missing Years".

The public is invited to attend. For more information log onto www.childwatch.bm or contact Edward Tavares at 334-8060 or Eddie Fisher, the group's President, at 234-2858.

Cabinet has already been briefed on the recommendations and is poised to make a decision in the future, pending the outcome of the general election, Mr. Butler said. "The Ministry takes these recommendations seriously and intends to meet with fathers' groups to discuss the next steps toward addressing the issues raised," he added.

"Cabinet has also been briefed on these recommendations and we will put concrete actions before Cabinet to decide on, in the near future.

"I am particularly keen on increasing the role that family mediation plays in settling family disputes."

Additional key recommendations included in the report are: Fathers' rights groups should invite members of the judiciary into their meetings to better understand the needs of fathers to improve relationships between fathers and their children; Sensitivity training for the Department of Child and Family Services technical officers when helping fathers in child custody matters; fathers' groups should engage their members to train as mediators; Support for pre-marriage counselling; and additional training facilitated by the Department for Police officers to help them deal with domestic disputes more effectively.

Alvin Gouldbourne, of The Father's Resource Centre said: "The main issues are the things that keep fathers from their children.

"Father's are desperate to be with their children.

"We get calls all the time where they were happy and all of a sudden maybe Mom has a new boyfriend and this father can no longer see his child."

Meanwhile, Keith Dubois, of Justice for Men commented: "Shared parenting means once there is a law you're not going to have too much of a problem with people being unfairly taken to court.

"Judges will know that their concern is to ensure that children can see their parents."