ACES Advocates for Child Empowerment and Safety

State Reform

California State Reform

Piqui's Resolution is the first step in making child safety a priority in the CA state legislature.

Aramazd Andressian II, also known as Piqui (pronounced pee-kee), was brutally murdered by his father on April 21, 2017. Piqui's father smothered his son in the backseat of his car after a trip to Disneyland. He committed this heinous crime in retaliation for Piqui's mother, Ana Estevez, asking the courts for protection during the divorce. The abuse was dismissed and no protection was given.. Although this became a national story, child death-by-parent has yet to become a priority for many law makers.

There are 636 documented cases of children being murdered by a parent here in the United States. 53 of those murders took place here in California. Parents murdering their own children is on the rise and this atrocity must stop now. Since Piqui’s death on April 21, 2017, there have been 44 children murdered by a parent in the United States.

Piqui’s Resolution is the first step to protecting children in our state. This resolution states:

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That all court-related professionals should be trauma-informed and trained in recognizing, evaluating, and understanding evidence and the impacts of domestic violence and child abuse; and be it further
Resolved, That a court reporter should record all hearings in contested custody cases and all litigants should have access to the court records; and be it further
Resolved, That when a child witnesses domestic violence, reports being injured or abused, or there is substantial evidence of child injury, family courts should ensure that the safety of the child has priority over all other considerations in any custody or visitation decision; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the California Supreme Court, the Judicial Council, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

Piqui's Resolution was adopted by the CA State Assembly on August 23, 2018 with 77 members as coauthors with Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio.

H.R. 113, Piqui's Resolution

Hyperlinks to Piqui's Story

Read the Resolution

Piqui's Resolution was adopted by the CA State Assembly on August 23, 2018 with 77 members as coauthors with Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio

AB 2044 would require the court to make the custody determinations consistent with specified findings. The bill would include in those findings that children have the right to be safe and free from abuse and that domestic violence in a household where a child resides is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the child.

Family Code 3020 will be updated to include: "children have the right to be safe and free from abuse".