Children on focus of the judiciary reform

Children on focus of the judicial reform is a project aimed at reforming the structure and organization of the judicial system in the family justice area by developing a family mediation procedure focusing on the best interests of the child. The project proposes a new improved model of the functioning of the judiciary in its sphere dealing with litigation on the exercise of parental rights. This model involves addressing legal disputes between parents by creating a specific methodology aimed at judges, mediators, lawyers and parents to direct such conflicts to out-of-court settlement. The project proposal foresees activities for in-depth study of the problems in solving such cases, and studying good national and world practices in similar cases; developing a unified methodology for scrutiny and assessment of the child's best interest in parental conflict; as well as the establishment of a common framework for functioning, promotion and creation of the necessary conditions for the implementation of alternative methods (mediation) as the main means of solving conflicts - among parents and experts in the sphere: judges, court assistants, lawyers, psychologists. The last will be achieved through training/information sessions for all target groups, and piloting the so developed methodology at the Center for Agreements and Mediation with Sofia Regional Court in a way allowing its gradual multiplication among all mediation centres in other courts. The successful implementation of the project would lead to: 1) A change in the organization of the way parental rights are exercised; 2) Increase in the percentage of out-of-court settlements, representing a form of direct civil control over the functioning of the judiciary; 3) Unloading the judicial system from some of the most emotionally charged and socially responsible cases while increasing the efficiency of the judiciary institutions.

Comments