Rejected petition Reform Divorce Court Law that Financially Reward Domestic Violence Perpetrators

As a survivor of domestic abuse with resulting PTSD I am now experience trauma at the hands of the very system meant to protect me.
The current Court structure financially rewards perpetrates of domestic abuse and violence and financial abuse often at great cost to the victim, including making them homeless in order to home the perpetrator.
This injustice is morally reprehensible and encourages and perpetuates cycles of domestic abuse and violence.

More details

The Law Commission is currently reviewing this outdate law, however this needs to be brought forward and fast tracked in order to protect survivors from further abuse and victimisation via the Court system as conduct is not considered.
The current system permits abuse and coercive behaviour to legally continue.
Survivor's of abuse have no voice or rights.

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the Senedd or Welsh Government is not responsible for.

The Government of Wales Act 2006 establishes the extent of the Senedd’s power to make new laws and amend existing law (also known as legislative competence). Schedules 7A and 7B of the 2006 Act set out the issues which are ‘restricted’ or ‘reserved’ - i.e. areas where the UK Parliament, not the Senedd, can legislate.

Paragraph 176 of Schedule 7A to GoWA 2006 reserves marriage, civil partnership and cohabitation. The Explanatory Notes to that Schedule provide that the reservation covers “financial provision and property adjustment on divorce”.
As a result, it is not possible for the Senedd to take the action called for by your petition.
Further information about the powers and responsibilities of the Senedd can be found here: https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/our-role/powers/

You may wish to consider petitioning the UK Parliament about this issue instead: https://petition.parliament.uk/

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards

Rejected petitions are published in the language in which they were submitted

Date submitted 6 March 2024
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