New legislation
A pilot project by the Ministry of Justice and the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem is changing the way courts approach child custody proceedings. Intervention centres are now interpreting their views and needs, especially in cases of domestic violence, to provide children with a greater sense of security.
The main objective of the pilot project is to increase the protection of children in sensitive family disputes. The child no longer has to be forced to give evidence in person in court in the presence of the parent he or she fears. Instead, his or her opinion will be safely conveyed by an expert from the intervention centre who acts as the ‘voice of the child’ in court. The project is currently being tested at the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem and its district courts.
The project also includes the creation of multidisciplinary teams consisting of judges, OSPOD staff, representatives of intervention centres, police, prosecutors and therapists. These teams share information about a particular family situation and jointly assess possible risks. The result should be decisions that are more sensitive and in the best interests of the child.
The Ministry of Justice states that the aim is not only to make more effective decisions, but more importantly to ensure that children feel safe and truly heard during the proceedings. If the pilot project proves successful, it could be extended to other courts in the Czech Republic.
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