A child-centred overhaul of Cyprus’ family law framework is moving through Parliament, with proposed measures covering domestic violence, child maintenance, parental alienation and children’s right to be heard.
The House Legal Affairs Committee has begun its clause-by-clause examination of the bill and hopes to send the reform to the plenary for a vote within the coming weeks.
Children’s interests at the centre
The modernisation of the existing family law framework was discussed during the committee’s first meeting.
Committee Chair Fotini Tsiridou described family law as an extremely serious issue and said the aim was to ensure that the reform remained child-centred.
“We see the number of divorces and family disputes in our country. We have an obligation to modernise our legal framework so that the child’s best interests are always at the centre,” she said.
“The reform must focus on protecting children, ensuring equality between parents and securing an equal sharing of responsibilities.”
Tsiridou said the ultimate objective in cases of divorce or other family disputes should be to strengthen the family through a modernised legal framework.
“We must make the process friendlier and more humane, improving the quality of life of the child and the entire family, as well as the quality of democracy enjoyed by citizens,” she added.
Measures included in the bill
The proposed framework introduces or strengthens measures concerning:
- The protection of children from domestic violence
- Counselling, psychological assessment and support for children
- Counselling programmes for parents
- Procedures for determining child maintenance
- Intervention in cases of parental alienation
- The establishment of a multidisciplinary team coordinated by the Social Welfare Services
- Protection from psychological and physical violence
- Plans aimed at reversing a child’s alienation from a parent
- Greater consideration of children’s views, depending on their maturity
Tsiridou said the framework must comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Four of eight bills already approved
The broader family law reform originally comprised eight bills, four of which have already been approved by the House of Representatives.
Those reforms introduced divorce by mutual consent and faster procedures in family law cases.
The committee has now begun examining the bill governing relations between parents and children.
Reform expected before the plenary
Tsiridou said the committee had started its clause-by-clause discussion and expressed hope that the process would be completed within the next few weeks.
She said the aim was for the child-centred family law reform to be brought before the House plenary for a vote “very soon”.
Source: CNA
