Sunday, December 7, 2008

Civil Family Law: Child As The Main Focus Of Attention

Assalamualaikum and hello. The modern family law now concentrates on upholding the right, interest, and welfare of the child in the family. Priorities are given to the right, interest, and welfare of the child without neglecting those of the parents and others. The focus on the right, interest, and welfare of the child actually began in the early 1900’s due to some situations such as the belief of the society in the right, interest, and welfare of the child, the increase of divorce rates, of children birth outside marriage, and also of child abuse. Eventually, the family law legislations in many countries were amended in order to embrace the new orientation of upholding the right, interest, and welfare of the child without neglecting those of the parents and others. For instance, in England the law uses the terms parental responsibility interpreted through the welfare of the child principle in which the child has the right to have love and care from the parents. The welfare of the child principle is also currently adopted by the law in Malaysia. In Australia, the law also uses the terms parental responsibility as in England but interpreted through the best interests of the child consideration. In short, the law and the society unanimously agree for the first time that the child deserves his right, interest, and welfare. Wassalam and thank you.

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