CONCLUSIONS OF THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON SHARED PARENTING

The VII International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) Conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 3 to 6 December 2025, in conjunction with the Portuguese Equal Parenting and Children’s Rights Association, Igualdade Parental. Hosted by the University of Lisbon Law School and the University Institute of Lisbon, the conference featured presentations in both English and Portuguese, with simultaneous translation provided for key sessions.

The conference brought together researchers, legal professionals, mental health experts, policymakers and civil society representatives from across the world. In all, 245 participants from 35 countries across five continents were represented, reflecting the growing global relevance of shared parenting research and family justice reform. Building on the legacy of previous ICSP conferences, the Lisbon meeting reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to evidence-based policy, child-centered justice and the promotion of shared parenting as a key protective factor for children’s well-being following parental separation.

The conference took place in a context of significant legal, social and scientific developments, particularly regarding parental alienation, domestic violence and child protection systems. Discussions emphasised the need for nuanced, multidisciplinary and proportionate responses to family conflict, rejecting simplistic or ideologically driven approaches. Importantly, the conference also highlighted the opportunities that shared parenting offers when appropriately supported, including improved child outcomes, reduced inter-parental conflict over time, and more resilient family systems. The conclusions below reflect the main areas of consensus, alongside the challenges and opportunities identified during the conference.

1. Legal and Policy Developments in Shared Parenting and Parental Alienation

Participants noted important legislative changes in Brazil and Latin America, particularly the revocation of Brazil’s Parental Alienation Law on 3 December 2025. This revocation was driven largely by concerns about increasing domestic violence cases and the perceived misuse of alienation claims. At the same time, the conference highlighted ongoing legal evolutions in Peru and Ecuador, whose reforms are inspired by earlier Brazilian legislation on parental alienation and shared parenting.

A growing international consensus was observed regarding terminology: there is increasing agreement to move away from framing parental alienation as a ‘syndrome’, while maintaining recognition of alienating behaviours as a real and harmful phenomenon. This shift reflects a broader effort to align legal language with scientific integrity and to avoid pathologising children, while still acknowledging the psychological and relational harm caused by sustained interference in parent–child relationships. Participants stressed that clearer legal definitions and consistent jurisprudence can create opportunities for early intervention, reduce litigation and support cooperative parenting arrangements before conflicts become entrenched.

2. Scientific Evidence on Child Development and Parental Conflict

Scientific presentations reaffirmed that rigid triangulation of children in parental conflict exposes them to toxic stress during critical developmental periods. Such stress can significantly compromise children’s emotional regulation, identity formation and self-concept. High-conflict dynamics were repeatedly identified as a central risk factor, regardless of the legal labels attached to the family situation.

The conference reiterated that the strongest body of scientific evidence continues to support equal shared parenting time, when safe and feasible, as the arrangement most consistently associated with positive child outcomes and reduced long-term conflict. Equal shared parenting was presented not as an ideological position, but as a data-driven conclusion emerging from decades of international research.

Alongside this evidence, presenters shared positive practice examples from multiple jurisdictions where shared parenting has led to improved school engagement, stronger parent–child bonds, greater parental accountability and a gradual de-escalation of conflict over time. These examples demonstrated that, when supported by appropriate services and clear expectations, shared parenting can transform adversarial post-separation dynamics into more cooperative and stable family arrangements.

At the same time, participants stressed that shared parenting must be implemented with safeguards, professional assessment and flexibility, particularly in families facing violence, severe dysfunction or multiple compounding challenges.

3. Domestic Violence, Child Protection and High-Conflict Families

A central theme of the Lisbon conference was the complex relationship between domestic violence, parental alienation, coercive control and child welfare. The session ‘Children, Families and Domestic Violence’ underscored the difficulty of distinguishing alienating behaviours from protective responses without resorting to a gendered lens.

Speakers emphasised that interventions such as multidisciplinary psychosocial teams, mediation services and child-centered parenting plans can play a critical role in mitigating harm, fostering safer co-parenting, and rebuilding family dynamics. Shared parenting, also referred to as shared residence or joint physical custody, should be limited only when clear evidence demonstrates disinterest, abuse or violence that directly endangers children.

Importantly, examples were shared of jurisdictions where carefully monitored shared parenting arrangements, combined with safety planning and professional oversight, have allowed children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents while ensuring protection from harm.

A non-gendered, evidence-based approach was strongly supported, highlighting equal accountability for all parents. Proportionality in judicial sanctions was identified as essential to avoid indirectly punishing children through the loss of meaningful relationships or unnecessary financial strain on families.

4. Child-Friendly Justice and the Best Interests of the Child

The conference reinforced the principles of child-friendly justice, aligning with the Council of Europe’s recommendations and the findings of GREVIO reports. Participants stressed the need to give greater prominence, in both legal doctrine and jurisprudence, to the emotional harm suffered by children who are victims of parental alienation or prolonged high-conflict disputes.

Conference papers also examined shared parenting in the context of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Evidence and practice examples demonstrated that, with coordination and clear communication between parents, schools, and support services, shared parenting can offer children with SEND greater consistency, access to both parents’ skills and resources and improved advocacy across education and health systems.

Importantly, the conference called for measures to end the persistent stigma surrounding men’s parental responsibilities toward very young children and children with additional needs. Such stigma undermines co-responsibility and reinforces outdated caregiving models that are no longer supported by empirical evidence.

5. Socioeconomic Inequality and Access to Justice

The presentation on ‘Brazilian Challenges’ illustrated how judicial practices can unintentionally exacerbate maternal overload while failing to promote genuine parental co-responsibility. The continued reliance on a ‘visiting parent’ model was criticised for reinforcing inequality and limiting children’s access to both parents.

Particular concern was expressed regarding low-income families, who face systemic barriers in obtaining judicial approval for shared parenting arrangements with dual residence. Judges and prosecutors often reject these arrangements, citing developmental concerns not supported by current scientific evidence. Participants noted that successful shared parenting initiatives in low-resource settings show that economic disadvantage should not be conflated with parental incapacity. Similar access-to-justice issues were highlighted in other jurisdictions, including administrative failures affecting family support in Poland.

6. Extended Family and Intergenerational Alienation

The conference also addressed parental alienation involving grandparents and extended family members. A three-year study revealed that the lack of specific legislation and prior family estrangement are among the main grievances of alienated grandparents. Many experience profound emotional suffering and a sense of helplessness as judicial systems often fail to provide effective remedies.

Positive initiatives from the United States and Europe demonstrated how mediation and legal recognition of extended family roles can help restore intergenerational relationships, benefitting children’s emotional security and sense of identity.

7. Innovation, Technology and Systemic Reform

Participants explored how communication technologies can help mitigate parental conflict by structuring and monitoring parental communication. Digital co-parenting platforms and low-threshold interventions were identified as promising tools to reduce escalation, support cooperation and assist parents managing complex arrangements, including those involving children with SEND.

The conference also called for a shift away from high-cost, adversarial legal systems toward more cost-effective coping and prevention programmes. Training for divorce practitioners, early intervention services and integrated support models were presented as sustainable strategies that protect children while reducing long-term societal costs.

8. Scientific Integrity and International Cooperation

Finally, the Lisbon conference reaffirmed the central importance of scientific integrity. Participants emphasised that integrity must be coupled with improved communication and cooperation within the scientific community. Ensuring access to reliable data and protecting research from misinformation or distortion were identified as shared ethical responsibilities for researchers, practitioners and policymakers alike.

Final Reflections

The VII ICSP Conference in Lisbon concluded with a strong call for integrated, balanced and child-centered approaches to family separation. Protecting children requires moving beyond polarised debates toward evidence-based policies that safeguard safety, preserve relationships and promote shared parental responsibility.

The conference reaffirmed that shared parenting, when properly supported, offers significant opportunities: stronger child well-being, more resilient families, reduced conflict and fairer distribution of caregiving responsibilities. Supported by robust protection systems, inclusive practices for children with special needs and a commitment to scientific integrity, shared parenting remains a cornerstone for healthier families and more just societies.

Alex Masardo and Sandra Inês Feitor
ICSP Conference Scientific Co-Chairs

 

CONCLUSIONS OF THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON SHARED PARENTING

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As the world’s leading organization devoted to the study of shared parenting and the best interests of children after parental separation, the International Council on Shared Parenting has concluded its Sixth International Conference on Shared Parenting, held in Athens Greece, on May 5-7, 2023.

The Council’s goals are, first, the advancement of scientific knowledge on the needs and best interests of children whose parents are living apart, and second, to formulate evidence-based recommendations about the legal, judicial and practical implementation of shared parenting. The Council has compiled a large database of new research on child and family outcomes in shared parenting families, and seeks to integrate this scientific knowledge into family law and professional practice. Our main accomplishment has been the publication of a series of consensus statements about shared parenting and the best interests of children, at the conclusion of each of our six international conferences to date.

What is unique about the Council is that it brings together three distinct groups in dialogue: leading scientists in the field of shared parenting who are able to share their current research; leading child and family legal and mental health practitioners who specialize in the area of parental separation and are able to share information on best practices with children and families; and members of civil society who are actively involved in the politics of law reform to establish shared parenting as the foundation of family law. We are also unique in regard to the international scope of our organization; this year we attracted 200 online and in-person delegates from 34 countries to our international conference.

Our sixth international conference was our most ambitious to date in regard to the number and wide scope breadth of the presentations on offer. In total, we offered a total of 74 plenary, workshop, panel and round table presentations, with over 100 speakers. Our conference theme was, New Paradigms: Advances in Research and Practice on Shared Parenting. Our subthemes included: International Comparisons in Shared Parenting Law, Best Practices in Child- and Family-Friendly Justice, Best Practices in Child- and Family-Friendly Mental Health Intervention, Experiences of Children and Families Affected by Domestic Violence and Parental Alienation, and Overcoming Barriers to the Establishment of Shared Parenting in Law. In developing conclusions with respect to each of these sub-themes, we sought the assistance of the chairs and moderators of the workshop sessions at the conference, as well as all of the plenary presenters.

The Conclusions of the Sixth International Conference on Shared Parenting are as follows:

1. We reaffirmed the main conclusion from our first international conference: There is a consensus that neither the discretionary best interests of the child standard nor sole custody or primary residence orders are serving the needs of children and families of divorce. There is a consensus that shared parenting is a viable post-divorce parenting arrangement that is optimal to child development and well-being, including for children of high conflict parents. The amount of shared parenting time necessary to achieve child well being and positive outcomes is a minimum of one-third time with each parent, with additional benefits accruing up to and including equal (50-50) parenting time, including both weekday (routine) and weekend (leisure) time.

2. We reaffirmed the main conclusion from our second international conference: “As shared parenting encompasses both shared parental authority (decision-making) and shared parental responsibility for the day-to-day upbringing and welfare of children, between fathers and mothers, in keeping with children’s age and stage of development, there is consensus that the legal implementation of shared parenting, including both the assumption of shared responsibilities and presumption of shared rights in regard to the parenting of children by fathers and mothers who are living together or apart, be enshrined in law.”

3. We strengthened the main conclusion from our third international conference: On the basis of current research evidence, social scientists can now confidently recommend presumptive shared parenting to policy makers. Shared parenting now has enough evidence that the burden of proof should fall to those who oppose it rather than those who promote it.

4. We reaffirmed the main recommendation from our fourth international conference, calling upon the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, governments and professional associations to identify shared parenting as a fundamental right of the child. We went further to state that a corresponding Charter of Responsibilities to Children’s Needs in the Separation and Divorce Transition is needed, and that shared parenting responsibility is most in keeping with a responsibility-to-needs approach to the best interests of the child. There is a consensus that it is the responsibility of social institutions, including public and private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities and legislative bodies, to support parents in their shared responsibility to address their children’s needs in the separation and divorce transition.

5. There is consensus that the lack of responsibility and the lack of accountability of social institutions, including public and private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities and legislative bodies, is a significant factor compromising the well-being of children of separation and divorce and their families, and strong accountability structures are urgently needed and should be established forthwith.

6. At the same time, there is consensus that parents bear responsibility for inducing problems such as parental alienation and psychological disorders in children. Parents and professionals should be conscious about parents’ attachment styles and motivational beliefs, and professional support to break the intergenerational cycle of such harmful family patterns and dynamics is vital.

7. We reaffirmed the main conclusions from our fifth international conference: Shared parenting is a viable post-divorce parenting arrangement that is optimal to child development and well-being, including for children of high conflict parents. Shared parenting serves as a bulwark against first-time family violence, and we thus support a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting in contested cases of child custody, and advocate for shared parenting as the foundation of family law reform. At the same time, there is a consensus that shared parenting is an optimal arrangement for the majority of children and families, including high conflict families, but not for situations of substantiated family violence and child abuse. We thus support a rebuttable legal presumption against shared parenting in family violence cases.

8. There is consensus that addressing the issue of family violence in separation and divorce cases, and addressing parental alienation subsequent to separation and divorce, are not mutually exclusive endeavors. Recognition of parental alienation as a form of family violence is part of our collective responsibility to address family violence in all its forms. All attempts to polarize the need to address parental alienation on the one hand, and other forms of family violence on the other, place children and family members at risk.

9. Formal and informal social support is vital not only to the well-being of children, parents and extended families undergoing separation and divorce, but also to the success of shared parenting arrangements. The role of social capital in assisting children and families in their transition to shared parenting arrangements cannot be underestimated.

 

CONCLUSIONS OF THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON SHARED PARENTING

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THEME AND GOALS OF THE CONFERENCE

The Fifth International Conference on Shared Parenting, co-sponsored by the International Council on Shared Parenting and the University of British Columbia School of Social Work, brought together scholars and family practitioners from two fields of practice, shared parenting and family violence, under the conference theme, the Intersection of Shared Parenting and Family Violence. Our goals were to open channels of communication and begin a dialogue on the topic, and to develop guidelines with respect to family law and therapeutic practice when parenting after divorce is a contested issue between parents and family violence may be an issue of concern, whether in the past, present or future. We sought to resolve the present impasse concerning how family law should proceed when family violence is an issue of concern in contested cases of child custody. We also sought to address four related issues concerning legal and therapeutic practice at the intersection of shared parenting and family violence: family violence education and training; family violence assessment and screening; specialized interventions in cases of historical family violence; and alternatives to shared parenting in situations of family violence.

 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FURTHER RESEARCH

1. Family violence framed as gender-specific and viewed as “violence against women” should give way to more gender-neutral conceptualizations such as “partner abuse.”
2. At the same time, mothers and children are affected by family violence in a different way than fathers, and violence against women and gender-based family violence is a serious issue, especially during parental separation and divorce.
3. The state of knowledge about family violence, and parental alienation as a form of family violence, in contested custody cases has advanced significantly in recent years, and this knowledge should be incorporated into reform efforts in professional practice, policy and law.

 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAW REFORM, POLICY AND PRACTICE

1.  Shared parenting is a viable post-divorce parenting arrangement that is optimal to child development and well-being, including for children of non-violent high conflict parents. We thus support a rebuttable legal presumption of shared parenting in family law.
2. We support a rebuttable legal presumption against shared parenting in family violence cases.
3. Family violence is a criminal law matter, and children witnessing family violence is a child protection concern.
4. Parental alienation is a serious form of family violence and child abuse in contested child custody cases.
5. We draw attention to needed reforms in professional practice in four key areas:
   1. The Education and Training of Practitioners in Family Violence During Separation and Divorce
   2. Screening for Family Violence
   3. Safety Provisions in Cases of Historical Family Violence Where Specialized Interventions May Enable Shared Parenting
   4. Alternatives to Shared Parenting in Cases of Family Violence