The last study visit under the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Project on “Improving the Effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members” took place in London and Dublin on 9-11 October 2023.
The Turkish delegation, consisting of judicial actors held discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, the Family Justice Council, the Central Family Court, the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Family Team and the Judicial College in London as well as with representatives of the Legal Aid Board, the Family Mediation Service, the Family Justice Strategy, the Circuit Court and the Supreme Court in Dublin.
The comprehensive visit provided insight into the functioning of family justice in the UK and Ireland, including the reform regarding abolition of the fault principle, financial and child-related consequences of divorce, child-centred practices in the family court, digital divorce process, cooperation mechanisms in family justice, and family mediation.
Following the visit, an assessment report will be prepared to address the contribution of the analysed practices and legal solutions to the improvement needs in the Turkish family justice system.
The “Improving the Effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members” Project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe and Justice Academy of Türkiye. The Project aims to ensure that the rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey are fully in line with international and European standards and to improve the effectiveness of family courts in protecting the rights of women, children, and other family members.
