UKMENSAID - Action

	SUPPORTING FATHERS 4 JUSTICE

The next movement to form was The Campaign For Justice in Divorce (CJD) in 1978. The attention this time was the financial aspect of the divorce process.

Whilst reaction was slow following the implementation of The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 a growing resentment was being expressed by those husbands bagged by the change in the merit test for the now notorious matrimonial ground of Unreasonable Behaviour.

The resentment was because having been entrapped by the system which did not support defence against the allegation and thus was unable to protect himself the husband then became burdened by order to provide life long maintenance to the now ex wife in the form of monthly periodical payments.

Membership of CJD grew progressively into thousands as more bagged husbands rallied to the cause. The moving force behind CJD's legal activity was the now late Mr Peter Snow. Mr Snow then in his mid fifties had been bagged by the notorious matrimonial ground and forced into having to maintain two step children by the equally notorious "children of the family" provision. Mr Snow studied for and obtained a law degree to enable him to mount an attack on the system in general but in particular the financial provision aspect.

He became a thorn in the side of the legal establishment as herlaunched an attack on the system which brought public attention to the matter through published law reports.

The next stage in having the life long financial burden lifted was to take the campaign into Parliament aided by victims canvassing their own constituency MPs. Gradually MPs became convinced that the situation was grossly unjust and unfair and through an early daily motion signed by some 320 MPs. Amendment was made to a family law Bill in Parliamentary progress in 1984 and an end came to the unjust judicial practices of the previous ten years.

CJD still in existence today whilst very much smaller in size operates as a consultative body on aspects of so called family law financial issues.

Literally thousands of husbands including those facing divorce today have reason to be grateful to the late Mr Snow for the work he did and the change he brought about for their ultimate benefit.