Today, the new European Union - Council of Europe joint project “Ensuring the best interests of the child in civil court proceedings in Slovenia” was launched in Bled. The project, co-funded by the EU and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe's Children's Rights Division in close co-operation with the Slovenian Ministry of Justice, will run until the end of February 2026.
The project’s Inception report prepared in September 2023-January 2024 stresses that while Slovenia has made big steps forward for the protection of children’s rights in criminal law proceedings, significant improvements are still needed to uphold children’s rights in the civil law system, particularly as regards delays in family law proceedings involving children. The lack of court experts in clinical psychology and the excessive use of legal instruments are the key issues to be addressed in order to overcome the delays. The project aims at rendering the process more effective and child-friendly by reviewing the current legal framework and assisting Slovenian authorities in drafting new legislation.
Dr Igor Šoltes, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice of Slovenia, Jerneja Jug Jerše, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovenia, and Zaruhi Gasparyan, Head of Cooperation Projects Unit at the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe, delivered opening remarks at the event.
The key outcome of the project will be the adoption of a comprehensive Action Plan to reform Slovenia’s legal framework in the field of civil court proceedings involving children, and the start of its implementation.
The launching conference has brought together representatives of relevant national ministries, international and national experts, the members of the Inter-ministerial Working Group on improving the situation of children in civil court proceedings as well as other national stakeholders, including civil society who will work closely to achieve the objectives of the project. The conference has offered an opportunity to present an overview of the European context for ensuring the best interests of the child in civil court proceedings and in particular the work currently being undertaken by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best Interests of the Child in Parental Separation and Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE).
Programme in English and Slovenian
Inception report in English and Slovenian
Presentation of the inception report
Keynote presentation: What is the European context for ensuring the best interests of the child in civil court proceedings? by Daja Wenke, Independent Researcher and Policy Analyst
Calls for Tenders
