Support Charlie’s Law
No family should have to fight to remove the parental rights of someone convicted of seriously harming their child
Some people experience unimaginable loss. Very few then find the strength to turn that pain into a campaign for change. That is exactly what Joanne Early and her daughter, Abi, are doing.
Together, they are calling for Charlie’s Law - a change that would automatically suspend the parental responsibility of someone convicted of murdering or seriously harming their own child.
Their campaign is rooted in the belief that no child or family should have to endure what they have.
Charlie’s story
Joanne’s son Charlie died when he was just three months old.
Charlie’s father, Gavin Gibbs, was later convicted of causing grievous bodily harm after deliberately breaking his arm. Despite that conviction, he retained parental responsibility for Charlie’s twin sister, Abi.
This meant he continued to hold legal rights and maintain contact from prison throughout Abi’s childhood.
Joanne has spoken about the lasting impact this had on their family. Abi has described the confusion and emotional harm caused by receiving cards and gifts from someone calling himself her father, while growing up with the knowledge of what had happened to her brother.
Jo and Abi have now transformed that lived experience into a campaign to protect others.
They are determined that no other family should be forced to remain legally connected to someone convicted of seriously harming or killing their child.
The gap in the law
Under measures commonly known as Jade’s Law, parental responsibility can be automatically suspended when one parent is convicted of killing the other. But there is currently no equivalent automatic suspension when a parent is convicted of murdering or seriously harming their own child.
This can leave bereaved and surviving family members having to enter further legal proceedings to restrict the perpetrator’s rights and influence. Charlie’s Law would address that gap.
The campaign is calling for parental responsibility to be automatically suspended when a parent is convicted of:
murdering their child
causing serious harm to their child
The Government has said it is reviewing the law surrounding parental responsibility. Jo is calling for this specific protection to be introduced through the Courts and Tribunals Bill or through a separate Parental Responsibility Act.
Children’s welfare must come first
Parental responsibility should never be used to maintain power, influence or control over a child and their family following the most serious forms of harm.
Jo and Abi’s campaign asks a fundamental question: when parental rights conflict with a child’s right to safety and protection, why should families have to fight to have those rights removed?
Children’s welfare must remain at the centre of every decision.
Support Charlie’s Law
Joanne has launched a parliamentary petition calling on the Government to introduce Charlie’s Law. The petition needs 10,000 signatures to receive a Government response and 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in Parliament.
It currently closes on 20 September 2026.
By signing and sharing the petition, you can help Jo and Abi raise awareness, close this gap in the law and protect children and families from further harm.
Sign the petition and support Charlie’s Law.
