Parental alienation is the phenomenon under which children develop hostile behavior—including reluctance to maintain contact—towards one parent and a strong alliance with the other during a divorce. The concept emerged in the United States in the 1970s. The Autonomous Women's Center's (AWC) findings in this new report show that in many cases, this concept overlooks the presence of domestic violence. Despite legal advances in protecting against domestic violence, the courts in Serbia often prioritize maintaining contact between children and the abusive parent. As a result, mothers—frequently the protective parents—are labelled as “alienating parents” and subjected to punitive action, such as being ordered to send their children to undergo therapy to “repair” their relationship with the father. 

The report emphasizes that the child’s and victim’s responses–often rooted in legitimate fear—are disregarded. Domestic violence is frequently not adequately assessed as a valid reason for a child’s refusal to see a parent. In light of this, the researchers from AWC Belgrade align with the position of numerous experts in calling for the abandonment of the concept of “parental alienation” in custody cases involving domestic violence. 

Compiled From: Tanja Ignjatatović, Tanja Pavlov, Marija Lukić, “Domestic violence hidden behind the concept of “parental alienation”. Research on court practices in custody and visitation disputes regarding the child’s relationship with the non-resident parent”, Autonomous Women’s Center Belgrade, 2025.