What grounds are required to deprive the father of a child of parental rights?

According to Article 164 of the Family Code of Ukraine, a mother and father may be deprived of parental rights if they:

• the child was not taken from the maternity hospital or from another health care institution and for 6 months did not show parental care for it (without a valid reason);

• shirk their responsibilities regarding raising a child and/or ensuring that he/she obtains a full general secondary education;

• treat the child cruelly (use physical or mental violence, impermissible methods of upbringing, degrade the human dignity of the child, etc.);

• are chronic alcoholics or drug addicts (these facts must be confirmed by appropriate medical reports);

• resort to any kind of exploitation of the child (for example, involve him in hard work, engage in prostitution or criminal activities), force him to beg and wander;

• convicted of committing an intentional criminal offense against a child.