Current judicial practices do not ensure that children are informed about proceedings that concern them, and all children capable of expressing their opinions will be given the opportunity to be heard in such proceedings, said Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová. On Thursday she held talks with Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská (Most-Híd) on the Ombudswoman's Report on the implementation of the fundamental right of the child to be heard in judicial proceedings - often involving disputes between estranged parents. In her report, Dubovcová, among other things, reproached the judicial practice that doesn't guarantee that the child's opinion will be given adequate attention and that the child will be informed about the outcome and impact of proceedings. According to the ombudswoman, the courts claimed that they have long been favouring indirect findings via a court-appointed collision custodian before the direct hearing of a child. "The way this person spoke on behalf of a child couldn't be considered as a real hearing in the proceedings, as there was no record out of it," said Dubovcová, adding that in most of the cases examined, custodians only transmitted their interpretation of the dialogue with a child to the court.
New procedural rules have been in force since July 1 allowing the direct hearing of a child before the court, it's possible and appropriate for the case.
