iCare2 – International Family Mediation in Child Abduction Cases | | iCare2: International Family Mediation in Child Abduction Cases | Defence for Children Italy
iCare2 – International Family Mediation in Child Abduction Cases
Summary
The iCare2 Transnational Report examines how Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and France implement international family mediation in child abduction cases, promoting the best interest of the child and the right to be heard.
The report analyses how national legal systems implement the framework established by the Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 (Brussels IIb Regulation), with particular attention to the role of mediation in return proceedings. Through a comparative approach, it identifies strengths, gaps and existing practices in each country, and includes a mapping of available pre-mediation services.
The study also assesses the extent to which national systems comply with Article 25 of the Regulation, which encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution while ensuring the best interests of the child and the child’s right to be heard.
Overall, the report contributes to the development of European guidelines and best practices aimed at promoting a child-rights-based and gender-sensitive culture of international family mediation in cases of international child abduction.