Children’s Voices, Family Disputes and Child-Inclusive Mediation, livre ebook

Presents the findings of the only empirical research project in England and Wales into CIM, providing an evidence base for mediators, lawyers, trainers and policy makers;

Explores the voice of the child within mediation and reframes the approach to hearing from young people in dispute resolution processes to one of rights, rather than of optional ‘bolt-on’ to the adult-facing process;

Draws on interviews with relationship professionals, CIM mediators, parents and young people who have experienced CIM.

ePDF and ePUB available open access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

Recent legislative changes in England and Wales have eroded children’s ability to exercise their article 12 UNCRC rights to information, consultation and representation when parents separate. However, children’s voices may be heard through child-inclusive mediation (CIM).

Considered from a children’s rights perspective, this book provides a critical socio-legal account of CIM practice. It draws on in-depth interviews with relationship professionals, mediators, parents and children, to consider the experiences, risks and benefits of CIM. It investigates obstacles to greater uptake of CIM and its role in improving children’s wellbeing and agency.

Exploring the culture and practice changes necessary for a more routine application of CIM, the book demonstrates how reconceptualising CIM through a children’s rights framework could help to address barriers and improve outcomes for children.

1. Introduction

2. Children’s Right to be Heard? Points of View from Relationship Professionals and Children

3. Entering Child-Inclusive Mediation: Barriers to Uptake

4. Experiences of Child-Inclusive Mediation

5. Outcomes of Child-Inclusive Mediation

6. Conclusions