Thesis (LLM )-- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa entrenches the best interests of the child as being of paramount importance in all matters concerning the child. This commitment to the promotion of the welfare of children is not unique to modern South African law, but is an acknowledged principle of the common law and international child law as well. With such well-established recognition the question, which forms the primary focus of this study, arises whether the principle of the best interests of the child is workable and applicable in real life scenarios where the custody of a child has to be decided. The challenge to the application of the principle in this context is to reach a decision that will protect the parent-child relationship regardless of the marital breakdown. The question is whether the principle allows for and creates an honest awareness of and commitment to the welfare of children that influence decisions in this context or whether courts and decision-makers merely pay lip service to it in order to conceal the haphazard way in which custody is awarded. In order to determine the workability and applicability of the principle, it is necessary to know how the principle has evolved in the South African legal context. Through the examination and analysis of existing literature, international conventions, legislation and case law, a number of different perspectives on the developments in the interpretation and application of the principle are provided. These perspectives culminate in the useful and constructive insight and conclusion that the value of the concept is dependant upon the correct approach to the principle and its characteristics. The defining characteristic of the principle of the best interests of the child is its inherent vagueness and indeterminacy. Though this subjects the principle to serious criticism, this study supports the argument that indeterminacy is in fact essential. It ensures not only the flexibility of the concept, rendering it applicable to the time, cultural sphere and social context and unique circumstances of each case it is applied to, but a holistic approach to the child as individual and family as a unit as well. This holistic approach forms the foundation of the lists of criteria in McCall v McCall 1994 (3) SA 201 (C) and the Children's Bill, thereby establishing the workability and value of the principle for fair and just results in all decisions pertaining to the custody of children. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika verskans die beste belange van die kind as van deurslaggewende belang in elke aangeleentheid rakende die kind. Die verbintenis tot die bevordering van die belange van kinders is nie 'n verskynsel uniek aan die moderne Suid-Afrikaanse reg nie, maar is 'n erkende beginsel in beide die gemenereg en die internasionale kinderreg. Met hierdie wyd-verspreide en algemene erkenning ontstaan die vraag, wat dan ook die primêre fokus van hierdie studie vorm, of die beginsel van die beste belang van die kind werkbaar en toepaslik is in ware lewensdramas waar 'n beslissing oor die bewaring van 'n kind gemaak moet word. Die uitdaging vir die toepassing van die beginsels in hierdie konteks is om 'n besluit te neem wat die voortbestaan van die ouer-kindverhouding ten spyte van die verbrokkeling van die huwelik sal verseker. Die vraag is of die beginsel werklik 'n eerlike bewussyn van en verbintenis tot die welstand van kinders skep wat die besluitnemingsproses in hierdie konteks beïnvloed en lei en of howe en besluitnemers bloot die regte lippetaal gebruik om die lukrake manier waarop besluite geneem word te verbloem. Om die werkbaarheid en toepasbaarheid van die beginsel te bepaal is dit nodig om die proses van evolusie van die beginsel in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg onder oënskou te neem. Deur die ondersoek en analise van bestaande literatuur, internationale konvensies, wetgewing en hofuitsprake word 'n aantal perspektiewe op ontwikkelinge in die interpretasie en toepassing van die beginsel voorgelê. Hierdie perspektiewe lei tot die betekenisvolle en opbouende gevolgtrekking en insig dat die waarde van die konsep afhang van 'n korrekte benadering tot die beginsel en sy kenmerke. Die hoofkenmerk van die beste belange van die kind beginsel is die inherente vaagheid en ondefinieerbaarheid daarvan. Hoewel dit die beginsel aan ernstige kritiek onderwerp, ondersteun hierdie studie die argument dat die onbepaaldheid in der waarheid noodsaaklik is. Dit verseker nie alleen buigsaamhied, wat toepassing op alle tye in alle kulturele en sosiale omgewings en besondere omstandighede van 'n spesifieke geval moontlik maak nie, maar ook dat 'n holistiese benadering tot die kind as individue en die gesin as eenheid gevolg word. Hierdie holistiese benadering vorm die grondslag van die lyste van faktore in McCall v McCall 1994 (3) SA 201 (C) en die Wetsontwerp op Kinders 2003 waarmee die werkbaarheid en waarde van die beginsel vir billike en regverdige resultate in alle aangeleenthede rakende die bewaring van kinders verseker kan word.

Pertvarkant vaikų globos įstaigų tinklą, siekiama gerinti vaiko gyvenimo kokybę. Aktualu periodiškai tirti globos įstaigos vaikų ir globėjų santykių ypatumus. Darbo tikslas: ištirti globojamų vaikų santykius su personalu ir įvertinti vaikų dalyvavimo priimant sprendimus galimybes. Tyrimo metodika. 2008.09.09 - 2008.09.12 laikotarpiu Valkininkų vaikų globos namuose „Spengla“ buvo atliekama anketinė globotinių apklausa. Statistinė duomenų analizė atlikta SPSS 11 versijos programiniu paketu. Išvados atskleidžia, kad dauguma įstaigos vaikų palankiai vertina personalo veiklą, tačiau jų nuomonė į sėkmigo pasirengimo savarankiškam gyvenimui galimybes yra neigiama: tik kas dešimtas vaikas (9,4 proc.) žino, ką veiks pabaigęs mokyklą ; nei vienas vaikas nepaminėjo šeimos kaip gyvenimo vertybės; mokslas ir profesija svarbi tik kas trisdešimtam apklaustajam (2,8 proc.). Toks požiūris sumažina globotinių sėkmingos socializacijos galimybes. Daugiau savarankiškumo turi vaikai, kurie aktyviai dalyvauja visuomeniniame gyvenime. Kas trečias vaikas, dalyvaujantis priimant sprendimus dėl savo gyvenimo sąlygų, turi galimybę savarankiškai vertinti savo darbą. Tai didina sėkmingos socializacijos galimybes. / Restructuring of the children’s foster home network aims at improving the children’s quality of life. Periodic studies of the peculiarities of the relationships between children’s foster home inmates and caregivers are relevant. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between children in foster homes and the personnel, and to investigate the possibilities for children’s participation in decision-making. The methods of the study. Between September 09, 2008 and September 12, 2008 we performed a questionnaire-based inquiry of children in Valkininkai children’s foster home “Spengla”. Sta¬tis¬ti¬cal data analysis was performed using the SPSS 11 statistical software package. The analysis of the findings showed that the majority of the studied children positively evaluated the personnel’s activity, but their opinion about possibilities for successful preparation for independent was negative – only every-tenth child (9.4%) knew what they would do after finishing school, none of the children mentioned family as a value in life, and only every thirtieth child (2.8%) was interested in studies and profession. Such attitudes reduce the children’s possibilities for successful socialization. A greater level of independence was observed in children who actively participate in social life. Two-thirds (61.5%) of children who had not made up their mind concerning their future life did not participate in making decisions about the living conditions in the foster home. Meanwhile... [to full text]

No abstract available.

This cross-sectional study compared three groups of grandparents, two custodial and one noncustodial, to identify and delineate the unique challenges and expectations faced by custodial grandparents due to their nontraditional roles while attempting to disentangle grandparental role demands from child-specific problems as sources of distress. Those grandparents raising grandchildren demonstrating neurological, physical, emotional, or behavioral problems exhibited the most distress, the most disruption of roles, and the most deteriorated grandparent-grandchild relationships. Although the custodial grandparents raising apparently normal grandchildren demonstrated less distress, less disruption of roles, and less deterioration of the grandparent-grandchild relationship than those grandparents raising grandchildren displaying problems, they still demonstrated higher levels than did traditional grandparents. Those grandparents who reported fewer resources, demonstrated poor attitudes regarding seeking mental health services, and reported raising grandchildren displaying problems had the lowest levels of adjustment.

Although resilience is the normative psychological outcome of divorce, parents and children of divorce are disproportionately represented in the mental health and legal systems. Due to the great financial and psychological costs of incessant divorce litigation, interventions that promote positive child adjustment while alleviating the costs of litigation are in high demand. Social policymakers and clinicians have responded to this demand via a number of intervention strategies; however, the implementation of many current interventions has predated supporting empirical evidence.The present study seeks to establish the efficacy of a child-focused, intensive co-parenting therapy (ICT) intervention for divorced parents. ICT is a 14-week manualized therapy with an emphasis on communication and problem-solving training using cognitive-behavioral techniques. ICT's impact on legal outcomes (i.e., resolution of custody/visitation disputes, payment of child support, court order compliance, etc.), communication, co-parenting and parenting (i.e., cooperation, hostility), family functioning, and child adjustment (i.e., internalizing and externalizing behavior) was assessed.Participants were five families of divorce who had at least one child aged 11 to 17 and were court-ordered to participate in co-parenting therapy. Three of the families were African-American and two were Caucasian. A single-case research design with replication was employed. Therapeutic success was monitored by a multi-informant approach (parent, teacher, and child) according to a multiple baseline procedure. Communication and legal outcomes were monitored on a weekly basis. Co-parenting and parenting behaviors, family functioning, and child adjustment symptoms were measured at baseline, session 8, and termination.ICT significantly impacted all outcome variables measured, although the clinical significance of that impact varied across domains. ICT had the greatest impact on legal and communication outcome variables. For example, 100% of families in the study resolved at least some portion of their custody and/or visitation disputes; 40% of families dropped their legal dispute entirely. Additionally, all families significantly increased the quality and quantity of their communication. Results in the domains of co-parenting and parenting behaviors, family functioning, and child adjustment, while noteworthy and reflective of positive outcomes, were more varied. Clinical implications of study findings are discussed as they relate to establishing ICT as a possibly efficacious co-parenting intervention.

THE ISSUE OF THE CONCEPT OF CRIMINAL CUSTODY This diploma thesis deals with a criminal custody. This is an important part of a criminal process where there is a restriction of personal freedom based on a need to ensure people for acts of a prosecution. It is a complex issue which requires proper and sensitive legislation and as well as appropriate use in a practice. First part of this diploma thesis focuses on the term of custody. It explains the definition and an essential features. In the subchapters, principles which drive custody are specified. Differences between custody and judgment are explained. Second part of the diploma thesis concerns about question of personal freedom and custody in connection with international and constitutional law. First subchapter deals with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms which sets basic conditions for limitation of personal freedom and for detention. Next subchapter compares two important international documents: European Convention of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These two documents have a big influence on enactment of custody in Czech Republic. Third part contents substantive enactment of custody. The conditions for arrest are presented. Farther the reasons for custody and also strengthened reasons...

The court decisions on child's custody - summary The upbringing of children is one of the basic institutes of parenthood. As every legal institute even this one can be approached from different perspectives of legal regulation. This thesis is focused on aspects and consequences of court proceedings and decisions on the child's custody issues in relation with the divorce or separation of parents - as regulated in Sections 26 and 50 of the Act no. 94/1963 Coll., Family Act, as amended. I have chosen this particular topic for personal reasones. From the formal point of view, the thesis is divided into six chapters. In the first chapter, sources of the law and main terms are defined. Furthermore, the current legal regulation of the court's decision on the child's custody is compared to the legal framework, which is yet to come into effect, and in a more details the judicial application of the regulation is analyzed considering the legal and factual relations with the divorce and the parents separation. The second chapter and the third chapter are focused on the outline of the substantive law - the second chapter on the current legal framework, the third chapter on the rules set down in the new civil code. The fourth chapter contains the overview of the procedural regulations and institutions. The fifth chapter...

The aim of the study is to, with a norm critical perspective, highlight how men and their parenting are represented and framed in child custody investigation reports in Sweden. The main focus is to show norms and beliefs about men and their parenting as several sources indicate that discrimination related to gender and ethnicity occurs. Based on a qualitative research effort, a document analysis has been made by 14 child custody investigation reports from diverse areas in the country. Through a thematic analysis tree themes became apparent. “Culture as an explanation”, “Gender inequality and women understand women best” and “The receiving father vs. the authoritarian father”. The selected theories that have been used to create an understanding of our research problem are the gender system and postcolonial theory. The results gave us the conclusion that in this context both structural discrimination and racial prejudices towards fathers are apparent in many cases.

Titel: “You can tell us and we will listen, but it is not certain that it is you who makes the final decision” A study about the best interest of the child and the child´s participation in high-conflict families in custody investigations from a family law socialworkers point of view.   This study examined how four social workers at municipal social service section responsible for family law issues interpret the concepts of children's best interests, the child's participation and high conflict families concerning issues of child custody investigations, from a qualitative perspective. The study was performed using semi-structured interviews based on fictitious case studies on these themes. The main results regarding the child's best interest was the perceived lack of accepted knowledge base to assess the current interests of the child and the presence and severity of various risks children may face in the company of their parents. The main results regarding the child's involvement was, according to the interviewed social workers at the municipal social service section responsible for family law issues, that they generally follow the National Social Board of legislative interpretations and recommendations but that the protection aspect outweight the expense of the degree of participation of the child. The conclusion was in accordance with the indication from children's rights organizations the children will often be heard but do not always get their views listened to. The concept high- conflict families was not an established concept, even if the problem was well known. / Denna studie undersökte hur fyra familjerättssekreterare tolkar begreppen barns bästa, barnets delaktighet och högkonfliktfamiljer gällande umgängesfrågor i vårdnadsutredningar utifrån ett kvalitativt perspektiv. Studien gjordes med hjälp semistrukturerade intervjuer som byggde på fiktiva fallstudier kring dessa teman. Ett huvudresultat utifrån intervjuerna gällande barnets bästa var att det saknas vedertagen kunskapsbas att utgå ifrån för att bedöma förekomsten och allvaret i de olika risker barnet kan utsättas för i umgänget med sina föräldrar. Ett tydligt resultat gällande barnets delaktighet var utifrån de intervjuade familjerättssekreterare att familjerätten generellt följer Socialstyrelsens lagtolkningar och rekommendationer men att skyddsaspekten ofta väger över på bekostnad av graden av delaktighet för barnet. Slutsatsen blev att precis som barnrättsorganisationer uppgett, får barnen ofta komma till tals men blir inte alltid lyssnade på och deras synpunkter underordnas ofta ett vuxet barnperspektiv. Begreppet högkonfliktfamilj var inte ett använt begrepp bland familjerättssekreterare, även om problematiken var välkänd.

With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural. By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent. A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system. With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural. By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent. A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system. xviii In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation. In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. ( Psychology)