The thesis concerns two pathways for legal intervention in cases of suspected child abuse at the hands of parents. One pathway is based on social law, where society's utmost tool is child protective custody. The other pathway is criminal law, where the abuse is investigated and enforced as a criminal offence. Sometimes only one of these pathways becomes relevant, sometimes both. The purpose of the thesis is to examine and analyse the regulatory framework and its practical application, and to highlight what the two pathways of intervention can accomplish in relation to the child victim's rights and interests. In the case of child abuse, the (legal) relationship between parents and children - and between children, parents and society - is brought to a head. The study demonstrates that many complex legal issues arise when the person subjecting the child to violence and abuse is the same person who under family law answers for the child's protection, care and representation. It is inter alia noted that the concept "best interests of the child" is interpreted somewhat freely, which can risk overriding the legal rights of the child victim. It is concluded that, in order to secure the child victim's legal protection, the regulation needs many small enhancements, each tailored to the problem conditions.

Pour faire face à la stigmatisation et l’exclusion vécues par les personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux, le Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux au Québec (province du Canada) a mis en place un plan d’action en santé mentale 2005-2010, la force des liens, afin d’offrir des services de première ligne en santé mentale accessibles et efficients dans la communauté.. Cette société de droit par son dispositif législatif, veut protéger les personnes vulnérables d’autant plus les personnes présentant un danger pour elles-mêmes ou pour autrui, ceci parfois même au prix de leur liberté, par des mesures de contrôle, ce qui implique ingérence médicale et sociale. La révision des services de santé mentale dans un centre de santé et des services sociaux au Québec permet de préciser ce qu’en disent les acteurs impliqués et les personnes souffrant de troubles mentaux. Cette démarche met en évidence les difficultés des personnes utilisatrices de services pour recevoir le support nécessaire à leur intégration dans la communauté et à l’atteinte de leur pleine citoyenneté. Un des défis de l’avenir est de solliciter leur participation à différents niveaux de décision, les stratégies législatives internationales viennent illustrer et compléter cet alignement. / In order to take on stigmatization and exclusion experienced by people who have mental health problems, the Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services (province of Quebec in Canada) put in place The Mental Health Action Plan 2005 – 2010 The Strength of Links offering first line services in Mental Health that are accessible and of quality to the community. The Legislative assembly of Quebec as a society of rights wants to protect vulnerable persons and even more so those persons who are a danger to others or themselves sometimes at the price of their freedom, by measures of restraint that implicate medical and social intrusion. The revision of Mental Health Services in a Quebec Health and Social Services Centre permits clearer understanding of needs expressed by those implicated who suffer from mental health as well as the users of the services. This method gives a greater overview of the difficulties people have in receiving the necessary care and support so as to integrate fully in society as full citizenship entails. This is a challenge for the future, to seek their participation at different decision levels; international legislative strategies do illustrate and complete this alignment.