Topic analysis

Child abuse survivor calls for law reform to strip abusive parents of contact and decision-making rights

Kelly Higgins, a 40-year-old survivor of childhood abuse by her birth mother Bernadette McNeilly (convicted of the 1993 torture and murder of babysitter Suzanne Capper), is advocating for a law change to remove contact and decision-making rights from abusive parents, stating current rules allow continued manipulation and trauma for children even after placement with foster families. She argues existing government proposals—including restricting parental rights in cases of rape and serious sexual offences—are insufficient, while the Ministry of Justice emphasizes protecting children as its priority and notes ongoing family court reforms.