I was dismayed to read of the new government proposals regarding child residency (The Argus, July 21).

It is claimed that we live in a society based on equality but this is clearly not the case when it comes to matters related to the Family Law Courts.

It cannot be right that a divorced or separated father has fewer legal rights to his children than the mother.

While it has to be accepted that there are many abusive and violent men, there are far more caring and loving fathers, sometimes in very difficult circumstances, who need equality within the law.

Some manipulative mothers on occasion resort to using their children as emotional weapons against their former partners as a means of control.

This can be particularly relevant when a divorced/separated father meets a new partner and attempts to move on with his life. The children's mother can then become non-co-operative about access.

In these circumstances, men quite often feel unable to use the law as a means of recourse as they have little faith in being treated fairly.

Whatever the outcome of a child residency case, it must be in the interest of an equal society that both parents start with a level playing field when they attend the Family Courts.

It would seem strange that a Labour government, whose party came into being to bring equality and human rights for all, are denying this to men purely because of their gender.

It can be of no surprise that groups such as Fathers 4 Justice feel that they sometimes need to take direct action to get their points across as no one, least of all our government, appears to be listening.

-Paul David Holden, Brighton