Re-Empowering Dads
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 10:30AM 
- Ken Thompson
- Damien Diecke and
- Greg Stocks.
First up we speak with NSW Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner, Ken Thompson (COPAC), whose 5-year- old-son, Andrew, was abducted in 2008. He points out that, “Australia now has the highest per capita rate of IPCA in the world”, highlighting the need for new laws. “It’s far too easy for a parent to abduct a child” he said.
The Family Law Reform Association (FLRA) has called for the introduction of new laws to protect children from being abducted from Australia. As part of the support for this campaign, Ken Thompson has recently formed a group called the Coalition of Parents of Abducted Children (COPAC).
Our second interview is with Damien Diecke, a motivational speaker and Master attraction coach, who asks men to join him at the “Be That Confident Guy” seminar in Sydney 19th December.
Damien points out that if you are a man who finds the following familiar, than you will definitely benefit from his re empowering seminars.
“I see a woman somewhere at a club, across a room, or perhaps just in the queue in front of me, who makes my heart race and I want so badly to go over and talk to her - but I don’t, I can’t - for no matter how much I have struggled in the past to overcome it, again, I find myself in the grip of an overwhelming self-consciousness and fear of rejection - once more I feel paralysed”
We end the program with an interesting recording of the ‘HEY DAD’ workshop for facilitators presented by Greg Stocks at the recent National Mens Health Conference, which was attended by the Dads on The Air team.
It provides an insight into how men are working together to re-engage and re-empower themselves, following years of relentless persecution, stereotyping and isolation from our communities. They are encouraged by the many women who are supportive and who are starting to speak out against the perpetrators, under the banner of ‘We Want Our Men Back’
The “Coalition of Parents of Abducted Children” recently put out a media release in support of the FLRA campaign, demanding laws to protect children from International abductions, in which it points out that at least 150 children are abducted from Australia by a parent each year. Some are never found.
COPAC, is made up of an increasing number of parents whose children have been abducted from Australia, and points out that In many developed countries, International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) is a crime, but not in Australia. The FLRA is therefore calling on the Australian Government to criminalise this shocking crime. They are seeking an urgent meeting with the Federal-Attorney General.
Mr Thompson says, “IPCA is an extreme form of child abuse. These parents are emotionally unstable, or have simply decided they want to live in another country, or they refuse to work through the normal legal processes. It’s the ultimate act of selfishness”.
Canberra businessman Frederick Mack spent seven years and $500,000 before returning with his abducted son from Germany. “If someone flees Australia after committing a crime involving money the legal system swings into action, yet when a child is abducted there are no laws in place. This has to change!” he said.
Melbourne man George Pessor’s two boys were illegally retained in Sweden while visiting their mother. He found them and brought them home, but the search left him bankrupt. He said, “It’s every parent’s nightmare to not know where your child is and not knowing if your child will see you again. Laws should protect children, ours protect their kidnappers!”
Sydney author and businesswoman Margaret Wilcox searched for her daughter for 14 years. She said, “The abduction of a child by a parent is a terrible crime against the child’s human rights. Australia needs to create and adopt laws that reflect the seriousness of parental child abduction”.
Australian true crime author Robin Bowles also supports the proposal. Her grandson was abducted to France in 1999 and was not returned.
COPAC wants the Federal Attorney-General to work with the Family Law Reform Association to make Australia safer for children.