Universiẗat, Diss., 2001--Duisburg.

Denne studien retter fokus på en gruppe som i liten grad har vært gjenstand for forskning tidligere; Barnefamilier der den ene forelderen er norsk statsborger og den andre forelderen er utenlandsk statsborger og hvor Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI) har gitt avslag på søknad om familieinnvandringstillatelse. Det som er spesielt med disse familiene er at de allerede har bodd sammen i Norge og fått barn. Deretter har den ene parten blitt nødt til å forlate landet. UDI gir avslag i familieinnvandringssaker dersom ikke alle kravene som utlendingsloven stiller er oppfyllt eller ved brudd på loven. Media har laget reportasjer om flere familier som har fått slike avslag og hvor familiemedlemmene har blitt adskilte. Reportasjene har pekt på ulike konsekvenser for familiene; praktiske, økonomiske og helsemessige problemer. Studiens mål har vært å beskrive noen viktige konsekvenser avslagene har gitt for barna. Det ble benyttet halvstrukturert kvalitative intervjuer som metode. Studiens åtte informanter er alle mødre og den omsorgstakeren som ble igjen alene i Norge med barna etter at fedrene måtte forlate landet. Analysen tar utgansgpunkt i mødrenes beskrivelser av barnas reaksjoner. Sentrale funn viser at mødrene og barna ble sterkt påvirket av adskillelsen med fedrene. Barna viste stor sorg og mødrenes viste svekket foreldrefunksjon. En konsekvens av dette var at barna utviklet negativ atferd i form av regresjon, selvskading, seperasjonsangst, aggresiv oppførsel og tvangstanker. Disse funnene kan forklares med tilknytningsteorien som viser sammenhengen mellom separasjon fra en nær omsorgstaker og risiko for negativ atferdsutvikling. Tilknytningsteorien hevder også at redusert foreldrefunksjon kan bidra til utvilkling av negative tilknytningsmønster som i sin tur kan påvirke barnas atferdsutvikling negativt. Adskillelsen fra far og den endrede omsorgssituasjon utgjøre to risikofaktorer for barnet. Barn som utsettes for mange risikofaktorer på samme tid har stor sansynlighet for å utvikle negativ atferd. Denne nye livssituasjonen var en direkte følge av UDIs avslag. Når man ser dette i lys av den utviklingsøkologiske teori, så er avslaget en ytre faktor som eksisterer på makronivået som påvirker barnet som befinner seg på mikronivået. Studien peker på at UDI ikke foretar en individuell vurdering av barnets særegne situasjon, behov og omsorgssituasjon, men vurderer barnets beste på et generellt grunnlag. I flere tilfeller må barnets beste vike for innvandringsregulerende hensyn. Dette er i strid med et barneperspektiv som mener at man må ta utgangspunkt i barnets beste ut i fra barnets ståsted, og ikke ut ifra voksnes perspektiv. / <p>2018-10-04</p>

This thesis explores the constitutional right to receive basic education in the language of choice. This fundamental human right imposes a duty on the state to provide children with education in the language of their choice whenever reasonably practicable. It is not a matter of whether the state has to fulfil section 29(2) of the Constitution, but rather how to give effect to this provision. The right to receive basic education in the language of your choice is however, qualified by the specific internal limitation that provides that the right is subject to the condition that provision of education in the preferred language has to be reasonably practicable. Section 36, the limitation clause, is also a measure that can be used to limit this right. The aim of this paper is to contextually interpret the fundamental right to receive education in the language of one’s choice and to weigh up the intent of the provision to the provision’s actual result. All relevant factors will be taken into consideration to examine the possibility of limiting the right to receive instruction in the language of choice to comply with the purpose of education and the best interests of the child. / Thesis (LL.M. (Comparative Child Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This thesis explores the constitutional right to receive basic education in the language of choice. This fundamental human right imposes a duty on the state to provide children with education in the language of their choice whenever reasonably practicable. It is not a matter of whether the state has to fulfil section 29(2) of the Constitution, but rather how to give effect to this provision. The right to receive basic education in the language of your choice is however, qualified by the specific internal limitation that provides that the right is subject to the condition that provision of education in the preferred language has to be reasonably practicable. Section 36, the limitation clause, is also a measure that can be used to limit this right. The aim of this paper is to contextually interpret the fundamental right to receive education in the language of one’s choice and to weigh up the intent of the provision to the provision’s actual result. All relevant factors will be taken into consideration to examine the possibility of limiting the right to receive instruction in the language of choice to comply with the purpose of education and the best interests of the child. / Thesis (LL.M. (Comparative Child Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Tema for denne studien er barnevern i møte med problematikk som har å gjøre med samvær og barnefordeling etter barneloven, nærmere bestemt barn som har foreldre i vedvarende konflikt etter et samlivsbrudd. Selv om de fleste barn klarer seg bra, har samlivsbruddet betydelige negative konsekvenser for et mindretall, hvor grad av konflikt mellom foreldrene har sammenheng med hvordan det går med barna. Et samlivsbrudd kan både utløse og forsterke omsorgssvikt. Barnevernet har historisk sett blitt kritisert for å blande seg for mye inn i disse sakene. Nå er de politiske føringene at barnevernet skal på banen. Både barnevernet, familievernet og domstolene kan være involvert i familier der barn har skilte foreldre i vedvarende konflikt. Dette er et fagfelt som byr på faglige utfordringer ved at sakene utspiller seg i skjæringspunktet mellom flere lovverk, og at de ulike offentlige instansenes ansvarsområde til en viss grad er overlappende. Den sentrale målsetningen med undersøkelsen var å få mer kunnskap om hvordan barnevernet arbeider med saker hvor foreldre er i vedvarende konflikt etter et samlivsbrudd. "God praksis" har vært en tilnærming til feltet. Ut fra at barnevernet er en del av et offentlig system er det også interessant å se på hvordan samhandlingen mellom etatene utspiller seg. Derfor er også familievernets perspektiv inkludert. Spørsmål jeg ønsket å få belyst var: Hvilke rammebetingelser har den enkelte fagarbeider å operere innenfor, og hva styrer beslutningene. Hva anser barnevernet og familievernet som god praksis i disse sakene, og hvilke muligheter sees innenfor eksisterende rammer. Ønsket er å få innblikk i en komplisert arbeidshverdag, belyse dilemmaer og finne gode måter å håndtere denne type problematikk på, hvor eksempler på god praksis kan vise vei og fungere som forslag i dette kompliserte fagfeltet. Studien har en kvalitativ tilnærming. Jeg har foretatt til sammen ti dybdeintervju og et gruppefokusintervju. Informantene er fra ti ulike kontorer, i fire ulike kommuner. Fem av dybdeintervjuene ble foretatt i 2009, de resterende i 2012. Jeg har intervjuet fagarbeidere både i barnevernet og i familievernet. Familievernets stemme ble interessant etter at det kom fram at barnevernets praksis i en del sammenhenger så ut til være farget av familievernets praksis. Fokus på det offentlige systemet som skal betjene skilsmisseproblematikk ble vesentlig. "God praksis" relateres i første rekke til å ha et sterkt barneperspektiv. Noe av det mest framtredende ved denne studien er imidlertid hvordan de ulike aktørene behandler barneperspektivet og vurderinger omkring barnets beste ulikt. Dette har konsekvenser for praksis og samhandling. Skilsmissebarnet kan sies å være marginalisert, ved at barnet er lite deltakende i sin egen skilsmisseprosess. Dette bestemmes både av juridiske rammer og av faglig skjønn. Når samlivsbruddet blir barnevernets anliggende viser undersøkelsen at barnet i barnevernssaken blir løftet fram som en selvstendig aktør. Barnevernet opplever ofte å komme på kollisjonskurs med domstolene ved at vurderingene rundt barnets beste er sprikende. Avgjørelser i domstolen krymper barnevernets handlingsrom. "God praksis" er forbundet med et godt samarbeid mellom barnevernet og familievernet. Undersøkelsen viser likevel at det er stor variasjon på samhandlingen mellom barnevernet og familievernet. De store variasjonene gir et uforutsigbart hjelpeapparat for både brukerne og fagarbeiderne. Samtidig betyr dette at det finnes et handlingsrom innenfor eksisterende rammebetingelser. Oppgaven reiser spørsmål ved om det er behov for å organisere samhandlingen mellom de ulike etatene for å forebygge at barn og familier havner i gråsonen. Videre stilles det spørsmål til om dagens system er med på å opprettholde barnevernets stigma. Samværsproblematikk kan betegnes som en moderne form for omsorgssvikt i barnevernet. Den synes å ha en lavere status enn for eksempel problematikk knyttet til rus, vold eller psykiatri. Selv om barnevernet er gitt føringer om å jobbe i disse sakene, etterspørres ikke arbeidet politisk. Barnevernet fører ikke statistikk på disse sakene. Barnevernet er heller ikke tilført ekstra økonomiske ressurser eller økt kompetanse. Barnevernet beskriver en maktesløshet knyttet til å betjene skilsmisseproblematikk. Det offentlige systemet som skal betjene skilsmisseproblematikk står under press. Man kan stille spørsmål ved hvor mye omsorgsbyråkratiet skal betjene. Konsekvensene av samlivsbrudd kan betegnes som et folkehelseproblem, hvor det i første rekke er en politisk oppgave å snu den negative utviklingen. / The theme of this study is the Child Welfare Service dealing with problems related to parental divorce, specifically children who have parents in an persistent conflict after a breakup. Although most children manage ok after the divorce, it has significant negative consequences for a minority. The child’s development is related to the degree of conflict between parents. A divorce can both trigger and enhance child neglect. Historically the Child Welfare Service has been criticized for interfering too much into these cases. Now, the political guidelines says the opposite. Both child welfare, family counseling and the courts may be involved in families where children have divorced parents in persistent conflict. This is a field that offers professional challenges. The cases take place at the intersection of multiple laws, and that the various public agency's responsibility to some extent overlapping. The main objective of this study was to gain more knowledge about how the child welfare deal with cases where parents are in persistent conflict after a breakup. The approach has been "god practice". Based on that the child welfare is part of a public system, it is also interesting to see how the interaction between agencies takes place. The family counseling perspective is therefore also included. Questions I wanted to get covered were: What are the frameworks the workers have to operate within, what controls the professional decisions. What do the child welfare and family counseling define as good practice, and do they see any opportunities within the existing framework. I wanted to find out how the child welfare defines cases falling into the category "divorce cases", and how often and how the child welfare get involved with the cases. What does the child welfare considers as good practice in these cases, and what opportunities does the child welfare see within the existing framework. The desire was to gain insight into the complicated work, illuminating dilemmas and find good ways to handle this type of problem, where examples of good practice can lead the way and act as proposed in this complex field. The study has a qualitative approach. I have made a total of ten depth interviews and one focus group interview, from nine offices in four different communes. Five in-depth interviews were conducted in 2009, remaining in 2012. I have interviewed both workers in child welfare and family counseling. The family counseling cought my interest after it was revealed that child welfare practice in certain contexts seemed to be colored by family counseling practice. Focus on the public system to serve the divorce issues got significant. "Good practice" is first of all related to having a strong child perspective. One of the most prominent of this study is how the various public actors treat the child perspective and concerns about the child differently. This has implications for practice and interaction. The children of divorced parents are marginalized in these matters. Their level of participation in the divorce process is fairly low. This is determined by both the legal framework and professional judgment. When the divorce becomes the concern of the child welfare it is different. The study shows that children in child welfare cases are treated as independent actors. The child welfare often find to be on a collision course with the courts by the reviews around the child's best interests are divergent. Decisions of the court limit the child welfare action. "Good practice" is also associated with a good collaboration between child welfare and family counseling. The study shows that there is considerable variation in the interaction between the different child welfare offices and the different family counseling offices. The large variation provides an unpredictable support system for both users and professionals. At the same time, this means that there are possibilities to develop a better practice within the existing framework. The task raises the question whether there is a need to organize the interaction between the various services to contribute to children and families getting necessary help. Furthermore, it must be questioned whether the current system helps to maintain the stigma of the child welfare. Custody Problems can be described as a modern form of neglect in child welfare. It seems to have a lower status than, for example, issues related to substance abuse, violence or psychiatry. Although child welfare is given guidelines to go into these cases, the politicians do not demand results. Child Welfare Services are not provided additional financial resources and greater competence. Child Welfare describes a powerlessness related to serving divorce issues. The public system to serve the divorce issues are under pressure. One can question how much the care bureaucracy is going to serve. The consequences of divorce can be described as a public health problem. To reverse the negative trend is primarily a political.

This dissertation serves as a report on the qualitative exploration of best practices in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with children. The aim of the study was to explore and describe best practices in the field of AAT with children in the Western Cape. The research made use of the case study design, which offered the researcher the opportunity to interact with a small number of individuals and look for patterns in the research participants’ words and experiences. Four participants, who were trained mental health professionals and had offered AAT to children, were selected to participate in the research. A literature review of animal-assisted therapy and best practice provided a theoretical basis for the research. The history of AAT, the uses and benefits of AAT and the animals incorporated in AAT were explored. The term “best practice” and its application in mental health and AAT were also discussed. The verbatim transcriptions of the audiotaped data were analysed and interpreted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and an AAT conceptual framework (brought about by the literature review). Themes were developed from the empirical data and substantiated by the literature review. Five main themes emerged as a result of the analysis. The first theme, Training of the animal-assisted therapist, focused on both the mental health training and the AAT training of the therapist. The second theme, Training of animals incorporated in animal-assisted therapy, revealed the importance of training the animal to be included in AAT. The third theme, Different client populations in animal-assisted therapy, looked at which populations should be included, excluded or included and carefully managed during AAT. The fourth theme, Ethical considerations in animal-assisted therapy, revealed the importance of considering both the child’s and the animal’s welfare. The fifth theme, Regulation of animal-assisted therapy, gave a more in-depth description of the current regulation of AAT in the Western Cape and provided suggestions for the regulation of AAT. Based on the findings of the five themes, recommendations were made for best practice in AAT with children in the Western Cape. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

This dissertation serves as a report on the qualitative exploration of best practices in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with children. The aim of the study was to explore and describe best practices in the field of AAT with children in the Western Cape. The research made use of the case study design, which offered the researcher the opportunity to interact with a small number of individuals and look for patterns in the research participants’ words and experiences. Four participants, who were trained mental health professionals and had offered AAT to children, were selected to participate in the research. A literature review of animal-assisted therapy and best practice provided a theoretical basis for the research. The history of AAT, the uses and benefits of AAT and the animals incorporated in AAT were explored. The term “best practice” and its application in mental health and AAT were also discussed. The verbatim transcriptions of the audiotaped data were analysed and interpreted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and an AAT conceptual framework (brought about by the literature review). Themes were developed from the empirical data and substantiated by the literature review. Five main themes emerged as a result of the analysis. The first theme, Training of the animal-assisted therapist, focused on both the mental health training and the AAT training of the therapist. The second theme, Training of animals incorporated in animal-assisted therapy, revealed the importance of training the animal to be included in AAT. The third theme, Different client populations in animal-assisted therapy, looked at which populations should be included, excluded or included and carefully managed during AAT. The fourth theme, Ethical considerations in animal-assisted therapy, revealed the importance of considering both the child’s and the animal’s welfare. The fifth theme, Regulation of animal-assisted therapy, gave a more in-depth description of the current regulation of AAT in the Western Cape and provided suggestions for the regulation of AAT. Based on the findings of the five themes, recommendations were made for best practice in AAT with children in the Western Cape. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

South Africa is a water-scarce country and over the years, the quality of water resources has deteriorated due to poor effluent discharge, agricultural, industrial, mining and human activities. The major contributing factors of poorly-treated or inadequately treated wastewater may be attributed to: (a) the poor design and construction of wastewater treatment plants; (b) lack of qualified process controllers; (c) non-compliance with applicable legislation; (d) lack of proper monitoring; and (e) management issues with regard to wastewater treatment plants. Water quality is important as many communities depend on water resources for their daily activities and livelihood. There is a need therefore to build and manage wastewater treatment plants effectively as they have an impact on water quality. Wastewater treatment plants in South Africa are regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, the National Water Act 36 of 1998, the Water Services Act 108 of 1997, Provincial legislation, Municipal by-laws and other Government policies applicable to Local Government. Chapter 7 of the Constitution inter alia, provides that Local Government has the duty to provide a safe and healthy environment to its community in a sustainable manner. Schedule 4B of the Constitution imposes the function of delivering water, sanitation and wastewater treatment services on Municipalities. This responsibility rests on District Municipalities but may be performed by a Local Municipality if the district municipality lacks the capacity to do so. Although Local Government has the right to govern on its own initiative the affairs of its communities, it needs support and monitoring from other spheres of Government (National and Provincial) to ensure the delivery of wastewater treatment services in a sustainable manner. In this study, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is used as an example of a Municipality in the Limpopo Province faced with challenges related to the operation and management of its wastewater treatment plant. This study aims to determine who should be responsible for the regulation of wastewater treatment plants in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality area in order to ensure service delivery to communities in a sustainable manner. In order to deal with the challenges experienced by Local Government in dealing with wastewater treatment plants, the study considers Best Practice Guidelines and external service delivery mechanisms, specifically in the form of Public-Private Partnerships. The study concludes with recommendations based on Best Practice Guidelines which Municipalities can use to avoid wastewater pollution and proposes management mechanisms in managing a Public-Private Partnership effectively in order to ensure that they provide service delivery in a sustainable manner. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Section 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 states that everyone has the right to basic education. This provision must be interpreted in order to determine whether it refers to a period of education, or a certain standard or quality of education that also includes infrastructure. In this dissertation, the scope of the right to basic education and the state’s obligation with regard to infrastructure, are discussed. The dissertation will point out that the right to basic education should also consider the best interests of the child-standard as well as the right to equality. The Constitution provides that everyone has the right to basic education, which implies that there should be no discrimination against any child. In order to determine the scope of section 29 and the duty of the state accordingly, the provisions of international instruments must also be consider. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Children Charter and specifically the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights refer to the obligations of the state in respect to the provision of basic education and infrastructure. The Schools Act provides for the Minister of Basic Education to prescribe minimum norms and standards relating to school infrastructure. The importance of minimum norms and standards for quality education has been investigated with specific reference to libraries, learning material and water and sanitation facilities. Lastly, the lack of an internal limitation clause and the effect of section 36, the general limitation clause, were considered to evaluate the state’s obligation to provide quality education. / LLM (Comparative Child Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa is a water-scarce country and over the years, the quality of water resources has deteriorated due to poor effluent discharge, agricultural, industrial, mining and human activities. The major contributing factors of poorly-treated or inadequately treated wastewater may be attributed to: (a) the poor design and construction of wastewater treatment plants; (b) lack of qualified process controllers; (c) non-compliance with applicable legislation; (d) lack of proper monitoring; and (e) management issues with regard to wastewater treatment plants. Water quality is important as many communities depend on water resources for their daily activities and livelihood. There is a need therefore to build and manage wastewater treatment plants effectively as they have an impact on water quality. Wastewater treatment plants in South Africa are regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, the National Water Act 36 of 1998, the Water Services Act 108 of 1997, Provincial legislation, Municipal by-laws and other Government policies applicable to Local Government. Chapter 7 of the Constitution inter alia, provides that Local Government has the duty to provide a safe and healthy environment to its community in a sustainable manner. Schedule 4B of the Constitution imposes the function of delivering water, sanitation and wastewater treatment services on Municipalities. This responsibility rests on District Municipalities but may be performed by a Local Municipality if the district municipality lacks the capacity to do so. Although Local Government has the right to govern on its own initiative the affairs of its communities, it needs support and monitoring from other spheres of Government (National and Provincial) to ensure the delivery of wastewater treatment services in a sustainable manner. In this study, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is used as an example of a Municipality in the Limpopo Province faced with challenges related to the operation and management of its wastewater treatment plant. This study aims to determine who should be responsible for the regulation of wastewater treatment plants in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality area in order to ensure service delivery to communities in a sustainable manner. In order to deal with the challenges experienced by Local Government in dealing with wastewater treatment plants, the study considers Best Practice Guidelines and external service delivery mechanisms, specifically in the form of Public-Private Partnerships. The study concludes with recommendations based on Best Practice Guidelines which Municipalities can use to avoid wastewater pollution and proposes management mechanisms in managing a Public-Private Partnership effectively in order to ensure that they provide service delivery in a sustainable manner. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014