This Report highlights work undertaken in Phase I of the project onMeaningful Child Participation in BC Family Court Processes (“Project”), funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia.
With the starting point of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (“CRC”) and British Columbia (“BC”) legislation that requires consideration of the views of young people in decisions affecting them, the Project work was aimed at reviewing what happens between the intent of these laws and their actual implementation.
The Project involved interviews with young people, lawyers, judges and service providers who have experience in BC family court processes, a review of research and good practices, and identifying existing strengths supportive of young people’s meaningful participation as well as the gaps. Suggestions to bridge theses gaps form part of this Report, presented through an introduction and three chapters.
