On alleged discrimination by the Jugendamt (German Youth Welfare Office) in relation to a non-German parent 

Petition addressed to: Petitionsausschuss des Europäischen Parlaments

The petitioner, of Ecuadorian nationality, resident in Germany and mother of a girl born in 2009 by in vitro fertilisation, condemns the actions of the Jugendamt and the German family welfare system, which she considers to be discriminatory towards the non-German parent and having negative effects on related criminal proceedings in civil cases. The petitioner states that, after discovering photographs of child pornography on her husband’s computer, she submitted them to the police, together with her complaint. The criminal proceedings resulted in a fine being imposed on the husband. The prosecution refused to return the material to the mother, claiming that possession of such photos was illegal. In the proceedings relating to the custody of the child, the judge deemed that the husband, having paid a fine, had no previous criminal record. The judge subsequently granted the father all rights over the daughter. The judge also stated that, as the child was born by in vitro fertilisation, the father is the only biological parent. The petitioner indicates that the child has no contact with her mother because the father has so decided.