Family Code boosting protection of children signed

Slovak President Andrej Kiska on Wednesday inked an amendment to the Family Code, which should boost the protection of children and support the importance of a stable family created by one father and one mother. The bill states that such an environment is the most appropriate one for overall harmonious development of children. The amendment further stipulates that the placing of children into children's home should be viewed as a last resort. The bill, recently drawn up by the Justice Ministry, was inspired by similar laws in place in Germany and Austria. The amendment to the Family Code will also change individual provisions of other laws. For example, the Civic Code has been expanded with rules concerning the protection of children in cases when there's no certainty that the child isn't in jeopardy of its life and health, and that it isn't subject to mistreatment. This should be dealt with quickly and efficiently - with several guarantees against abuse by the state. The Family Code will further contain a provision specifying the 'child's best interest', with courts obtaining powers to intervene when a child becomes a hostage of parents in their disputes. The state will also be able to protect children in cases of domestic violence. The law doesn't only deal with violence directed at the child, but also affecting a person close to the child.