The German Association of Mediators (Bundesverband Mediation e.V.) in cooperation with
the Professional Association of Mediators in Bulgaria (PAMB), the Mediation Institute of
Lithuania (MI) and The Hague Network Judge, Netherlands are inviting to a conference for
family justice practitioners dealing with cases of parental child abduction:
Protecting the Child
European conference for family justice practitioners by family
justice practitioners to improve cooperation in cases of
parental child abduction
May 25th to 27th, 2016
NH Berlin Potsdam Conference Center
In an increasingly mobile European society, there is a commensurate increase in the number
of couples from different member states. Whenever a relationship breaks, things can get
complicated in case have spouses different nationalities. These dramatic family situations
sometimes lead to international abductions. Parental child abduction has an undoubtedly
significant harmful impact on the child and the parent left-behind.
To ensure that taking parents do not benefit from child abduction, because the case is dealt
with in their home country, the 1980 Hague Convention was ratified by 77 states. The
Brussels IIa Regulation complemented these regulations.
Practice shows that there are still many hurdles before giving actual force to a return order.
Any decision may be followed by appeals even up to the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR) and further lawsuit about custody rights, lengthening the time of the legal procedure.
This not only increases costs but also keeps the child in an insecure state, which cannot be
for its best interest and welfare.
The conference “Protecting the Child” aims to
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Identify differences in the juridical practice of the EU countries and find strategies
about adapting to each other
Improve cooperation of family judges in cases of parental child abduction
Inform about the results of the review of the Brussels IIa regulation
Strengthen mediation as a tool within cases of cross border parental child abduction
Cooperation Partners:
Associated Partners
Bundesverband Mediation e.V., Germany
Institute for Mediation, Lithuania
Professional Association of Mediators in Bulgaria
The Hague Network Judge, Netherlands
Bundesamt für Justiz, Germany
German Society for Family Mediation
Bulgarian Judges Association
Judicial Office for England and Wales
The project is funded by the European Commission in the Justice Programme
Conference Programme
Wednesday, May 25th 2016
2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m.
Opening
Welcome and Introduction to the conference
4.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.
Introduction
Introduction speech: ECHR decisions on child welfare
5.30 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.
Panel discussion
Comparison of judicial practice:
„Measures to protect the best interest and welfare of the child – if,
when, and how is a child granted a judicial hearing?“
7.00 p.m.
Dinner
Thursday, May 26th 2016
9.00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Day opening
Introduction to case-study for subsequent role play
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 a.m.
Workshops / Group work
Workshops with role plays on critical aspects of a specific case
study (Germany/Spain), the handling in different member states,
and strategies for cooperation.
12.15 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.
Panel exchange
Feedback from the working groups
1.00 p.m.
Lunch
2.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.
Keynote
Results from the review of the Brussel IIa regulations – European
approaches to harmonise judicial practice and to protect the best
interest and welfare of the child
Discussion on the implementation of the instrument
4.00p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Workshops / Group work
Group work/discussion on critical aspects of another specific case
study (USA/Italy), the handling in different member states, and
strategies for cooperation.
6.15 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.
Panel exchange
Feedback from the working groups
7.00 p.m.
Dinner
The project is funded by the European Commission in the Justice Programme
Friday, May 27th 2016
9.00 a.m. – 9.45 a.m.
Day Opening
Introduction into Mediation as a possibility to consider the best interest
and welfare of the child:
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9.45 a.m. – 10.45 a.m.
Benefits, methods and practices in different countries
Possibility of mediation after a return order has been issued
(stage of enforcement)
Mediation
Simulation of a mediation in the context of the first case study
11.00 a.m. 12.30 p.m.
Workshops about mediation
1.00 p.m.
Lunch
2.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.
Networking
Market place: International institutions for international cases of
child abduction introduce themselves
3.30 p.m. – 4.00 pm
Closing
All workshops, panel exchanges and presentations will be held in English. In case of language barriers
we will discuss possibilities of an individual language support.
Short-term changes of the programme are possible. The basic structure of the conference will be
maintained.
The project is funded by the European Commission in the Justice Programme
Conference Registration
Registration fee
Participants from:
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Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania and the Netherlands (project partner countries):
Other EU-countries (except UK and DK):
€90,€180,-
(UK and DK citizens: Please contact us in case of interest!)
Payment information will be provided with the registration confirmation.
The registration fee includes
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Participation fee for the conference
Accommodation at the NH Berlin Potsdam Conference Center 25th – 27th of May 2016
Subsistence during the conference
Attendance to the networking marketplace on 27th of May 2016
Conference material
Travel costs
Travel costs can be reimbursed up to a maximum of €250,- for international travels and €150
for travels inside Germany (train 2nd class, flight most economical fare). Further information
about the reimbursement of travel costs will be send with the registration confirmation.
Confirmation
Upon receipt of the registration, the conference organisation team will send an e-mail
including payment information as well as a confirmation letter, which also serves as an
invoice. Please show the confirmation letter at the registration counter when picking up your
congress material.
Registration period
The conference has a limited number of participants. The registration period ends February
28th, 2016.
Cancellation of participation
Notice of cancellation should be sent by e-mail to protectingthechild@bmev.de. The
registration fee can be refunded until March 31st, 2016.
Contact
protectingthechild@bmev.de
The project is funded by the European Commission in the Justice Programme
Protecting the Child
European conference for family justice practitioners by family
justice practitioners to improve cooperation in cases of
parental child abduction
May 25th to 27th, 2016
NH Berlin Potsdam Conference Center
Registration Form
Please send by:
1. EMAIL:
2. FAX:
protectingthechild@bmev.de
+49 (0)30 43 57 25 31
Name*____________________________________________________________________
Job Title*__________________________________________________________________
Institution*_________________________________________________________________
Mail Address ______________________________________________________________
City ____________________________ Postal Code _______________________________
Country* __________________________________________________________________
Email*____________________________________________________________________
Phone __________________________ Fax ______________________________________
Date ___________________________ Signature _________________________________
It is planned to provide a list with contact data of the attendees and to document parts of the
conference on video and photo in order to establish an e-learning course as sustainable outcome of
the conference.
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I hereby agree to include my personal contact data as indicated above (*) on the attendee list
being provided to all participants of the conference.
I hereby agree that photos and video footage of me taken during the conference may be used
for documentation purposes and for e-learning measures to be established as further outcome
of the conference.
The project is funded by the European Commission in the Justice Programme