A Belgian court has upheld a ruling compelling a suspended gendarme (a member of Belgium's federal military police force) to meet with his estranged partner, despite the pair's separation. The decision has drawn concern from domestic violence advocates, who argue that forcing contact between separated partners — particularly where a power imbalance exists — can retraumatise victims rather than resolve conflict. The case highlights a broader tension in European family law between facilitating co-parenting arrangements and protecting the safety of those who have experienced abuse within intimate relationships.