I like this article’s reframing of the issue…
Although this is an overstatement:
Civil courts in general do gravitate towards the welfare of the child as being a primary concern, if not the primary concern. But the rights of the parents, specifically the non-custodial parents, are at least somewhat taken into account. Within Jewish law, the question of rights does not enter into the picture. The focus is exclusively on the good of the child. Whatever is good for the child then becomes incorporated as the general guideline for how the divorcing parents will have their responsibilities apportioned.