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The right time for rights? Judicial engagement with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Part VII proceedings
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The right time for rights? Judicial engagement with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Part VII proceedings

Georgina Dimopoulos
Australian Journal of Family Law , Vol.36(1), pp.63-89
07/2023

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Abstract

This article examines the use of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ('CRC') in judicial decision-making in proceedings under Part VII of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). It presents the findings of an empirical study of published judgments at first instance from 1990–2021 that refer to the CRC, offering quantitative and qualitative insights into how judges have engaged with this international convention. Two key conclusions are drawn. The first is that children's rights are not yet a way of thinking for judges in Part VII proceedings. Secondly, further judicial engagement with children's right to express their views and be heard could improve children's meaningful, safe participation in decision-making about their best interests. This article stimulates dialogue about whether, and if so, how the CRC can be incorporated more robustly into Australian family law policy and practice.

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