Response to the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the Children (Scotland) Bill 2019

Citation

Sutherland EE (2019) Response to the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the Children (Scotland) Bill 2019. Scottish Parliament. Children (Scotland) Bill Written Submissions, REF NO. J/S5/19/CH/14. Edinburgh. https://www.parliament.scot/S5_JusticeCommittee/Inquiries/JS519CH14_Sutherland_Professor_Elaine.pdf

Abstract
First paragraph: The policy objectives of the Children (Scotland) Bill and the accompanying Family Justice Modernisation Strategy2 are to “ensure the views of the child are heard in contact and residence cases; further protect victims of domestic abuse and their children; ensure the best interests of the child are at the centre of any contact and residence case and children’s hearing; and further compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in family court cases.”3 These objectives are welcomed, as is the opportunity to comment on the Bill. It is my view that, while some of the provisions in the Bill would achieve its goals, others require clarification or amendment, while yet others should be dropped.