FAMILY MEDIATION WHEN CHILDREN\u27S RIGHTS AND INTERESTS ARE THREATENED

Družinska mediacija se je v zadnjih letih tudi v Sloveniji uveljavila kot učinkovit način alternativnega reševanja družinskopravnih sporov. Družinski konflikti pogosto vključujejo tudi otroke, katerim moramo ob nenadnih življenjskih spremembah posvetiti posebno pozornost. Vključevanje otrok v mediacijo se je v praksi izkazalo kot pozitiven način, kako usmeriti pozornost udeleženih strank na ključno temo razprave varovanje otrokovih koristi. Mednarodni in nacionalni pravni akti dajejo pravno podlago in smernice mediatorjem, kako naj otroke vključujejo in kdaj je vljučevanje zanje primerno. Danes prevladuje mnenje pravnih strokovnjakov, naj se otroka vključuje, če je dovolj starostno in čustveno zrel razumeti dogajanje ter sposoben izraziti svoje mnenje. Otroka ne vključujemo v zadevah, ki se nanj neposredno ne nanašajo, saj bi v nasprotnem primeru lahko prenašali breme sprejemanja odločitev na njega. Mediator posebno skrb posveča odnosu med starši in otrokom, saj obstaja možnost, da bo prišlo do manupilacije, zlorab in drugih vrst pristikov, s strani udeležencev. Raziskava je posvečena predstavitvi položaja otroka v družinski mediaciji, njegovo vključevanje v sam postopek in načine varstva njegovih koristi, kot eno izmed temeljnih načel družinske mediacije. V uvodnem delu je predstavljena družinska mediacija, njena umeščenost v pravi red in temeljna načela, ki so vodilni standardi mediatorjevega dela. Nato se je avtorica osredotočila na problematiko in predstavitev pozitivnih in negativnih učinkov vključevanja otrok v mediacijo, analizo primernosti sprov za družinsko mediacijo v primerih, ko so ogrožene koristi otroka in predstavitvi dela mediatorja Evropskega parlamenta za mednarodne protipravne odvzeme otrok.In recent years family mediation has established itself as an effective alternative in solving family-law disputes. Family conflicts often include children, which need special attention in such a life changing events. Practice has proven the benefits of participation of children in mediation, which brings positive attention to the parties on the key topic of discussion, the protection of the chlid’s best interests. International and national legal acts provide the legal basis and guidlines to mediators, on how to involve children and when such an involvement is appropriate. Nowadays, the prevailing opinion of legal experts believe that children should be included in the process as long as they are re old enough and emotional mature to express their opinion. Children should not be included in the matters that are not directly related to them, because otherwise there is a risk of carrying the decision-making burden on a child. Special attention needs to be paid to the relationship between parents and children, because there is a possibility that participants of mediation will manipulate or abuse children just to affect their opinion. The study is focused on the presentation of child’s position in family mediation, his or hers involvement in the process itself and protection of the best interests and welfare of the child as one of the fundamental principles of family mediation. In the introduction part I is presented family mediation in general, its placement in the legal acts and fundamental principles, which are leading guidelines for mediator’s work. Furthermore is presented the issue of positive and negative effects of including children in mediation, an analysis of which family disputes are suitable for mediation when children’s rights and interests are threatened. Finally study presented work of the mediator of European Parliament for International Parental Child Abduction