The Participation of Minors in the Proceedings Regarding Their Upbringing and Maintenance

Monika Chrenková, Kateřina Cilečková, Alena Vaňharová

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The Participation of Minors in the Proceedings Regarding Their Upbringing and Maintenance

Monika Chrenková, Kateřina Cilečková, Alena Vaňharová

Medailon autora:

Dr. Monika Chrenková is as a lecturer at the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava. She focuses on social work with families, the social and legal protection of children, and institutional care.

Dr. Kateřina Cilečková is as a lecturer at the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava. She is a lawyer, and her main research focus at the University is connected with legal subjects.

Alena Vaňharová is as a practice administrator at the Department of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava, and is a Ph.D. student. The topic of her dissertation focuses on the social and legal protection of children in families affected by poverty.

Abstrakt:

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the quantitative research was to find out how and to what extent minors are engaged in the court proceedings regarding their upbringing and maintenance, and whether the court takes their views into account when it comes to decision-making. THEORETICAL BASE: It is based on legislative and professional legal literature. The research is rooted in two key concepts – child participation and the form of their participation. METHODS: The research sample was made up of court decisions involving the upbringing and maintenance of minors, and finally and firmly terminated in 2015 and 2016 at two district courts in the Moravian- Silesian Region. The content analysis of documents was used to collect the data. OUTCOMES: The resulting data brings interesting and often alarming findings that are in conflict with valid legislation, but they often confirm the rigid Czech judiciary practice in the area of decision-making when it comes to the upbringing of a minor. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: The research results can be used for both the professional public in the area of the social and legal protection of children and the judicial practice.