Despite promising to give children a greater voice in the Family Court the government still seems to be doing nothing, after it confirmed that the Ministry of Justice never enacted a policy allowing children to speak to judges.
This information came to light after Researching Reform made a Freedom Of Information Request asking what progress had been made allowing children to speak to family judges about their cases. You can see the request and the Ministry of Justice’s full response, here.
We’ve added the section which confirms the government’s inaction, below:
In 2014, the government pledged to make sure that children going through the family courts would be able to speak to judges about their wishes and feelings.
Whilst the Freedom Of Information response from the Family Justice Policy Division blames the last government for failing to implement this policy, that’s not quite right.
Dr Phillip Lee, who was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Victims, Youth and Family Justice in 2016, confirmed that the current government was working on this policy only 4 months ago, in October 2016.
Dr Lee had this to say at the Family Justice Young People’s Board 2016 Voice of the Child Conference:
“Guidance on children’s participation in proceedings is key to the voice of the child agenda. It is vital that we get this right, so the judiciary, Cafcass and Ministry of Justice are working carefully on this. We need to explore ways to balance children’s stronger involvement in proceedings about them, while also making sure the system continues to operate effectively at this time of increasing demand and pressure. We will, of course, listen to your views in getting that balance right.”
This begs the question – is Dr Lee lying about the government’s agenda on this policy or is the response to our FOI request a little shoddy?
Either way, we will be inviting Dr Lee to clarify the position. Twitter: @DrPhillipLeeMP
Researching Reform 
Don’t be surprised when governments announce policies but do not implement them !
MPs need to make promises to get elected and stay elected……………
In this particular case however it is useless letting children speak to the judge when the parents is excluded but the social worker is included in such meetings and often the ex social worker guardian as well.The child dare not speak its mind when the “meeting” is dominated by the oppressors…………..
LikeLike
I must agree on this 100% because it is a sad fact that the oppressors have all the control over the whole deadly process. the only chance the child would have is if the judge is 100% unbiased and incorruptible.
LikeLike
Exactly so – I have read so many judgments where the judge gives great weight to the child’s expressed wishes when it accords with his/her judgment or dismisses them on a “grass is greener” basis when they are not congruent with the judgment.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on No Punishment without Crime or Bereavement without Death! and commented:
MIND THE GAP: between promising and delivering…
LikeLike
Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
LikeLike
What Government doesn’t pass the buck?? The services meant to protect the child time and again fail to do so. A child under 7 CANNOT invent stories of child abuse their brain has not sufficiently developed and yet children are told ” no evidence” by Police. and social workers. The system is flawed and broken and needs a thorough overhaul. Young children traumatised by their abuse may not have the resilience OR language skills to speak to a Judge and not feel more oppression. They have been silenced by fear which is REAL, they feel toxic shame. Be THE CHILD – would you speak in a court to a Judge??
LikeLike
if Judges and Social workers along with other professionals involved in the case are colluding with eachother via secret clandestine meetings as exposed by Justice Pauffley in the mail online, then any child wishing to go home to their parents while the LA are aggressively seeking an Adoption order is unlikely to get justice anyway.
LikeLike
Thank you for pursuing and posting the results. To be honest, I couldn’t see how the policy was supposed to work or how it was to be implemented. The aim was fine, but nothing without detail.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Child Care Proceedings Exposed.
LikeLike
But it could be said they ‘do’ through those evil SS Familiar Guardians and their Barristers who twist the story in favour of SS and adopters. Children are helpless pawns of the system sold like property of the state. These ‘Adults’ don’t care what children want because their arrogance has no place for childrens personal needs or wishes
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: BBC Interviews Researching Reform About Children In Family Cases | Researching Reform
Pingback: What Happened To The Government’s Child Welfare Consultations? RR Finds Out. | Researching Reform
Hi everyone, hope all is well.x Please sign and share far and wide. Many thanks.x
Love, prayers, peace, joy and blessings x
Liz xxx
LikeLike
Hi everyone, I know that you are busy, but, please look at this and sign, pass on, share far and wide.
Many thanks.
Love, prayers, peace, joy and blessings.
The voice of the people together is stronger than the powers that be. The bigger they are the harder they fall. Let the people’s voice be heard.
LikeLike
Hi all 🙂 Please share far and wide and please Please participate 🙂 Hope all is well 🙂 Let’s raise our worlds vibration, we so need it 🙂
With much love, peace, prayers and many thanks and Our Lords blessings always 🙂
Let’s do this
God bless 🙂 x
Liz x
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.change.org/p/the-secretary-general-of-the-united-nations-stiff-sentences-hefty-fines-publicity-for-all-who-cover-up-for-child-abuse-b851e47c-078d-482e-b232-744f693f7324 [https://assets.change.org/photos/5/ci/ez/xsCIeZuXMJDAMwK-1600×900-noPad.jpg?1541010064]
Sign the Petition The Secretary-General of the United Nations: Stiff sentences + hefty fines & publicity for all who cover up for child abuse http://www.change.org
________________________________
LikeLike
Pingback: This International Children’s Day, Get The Government To Act. | Researching Reform
Pingback: Children’s Right To Speak To Judges In Family Cases Shelved Because Of Cost – Former Family Court President | Researching Reform
Pingback: Child’s Request To Speak to Judge Ignored In Child Protection Case | Researching Reform
The single best way to return children is to have the children CPS illegally and unconscionably removed talk to the judge and tell him how much they want to come home and love their parents, which is “with all my heart” and “want to come home more than anything.” This is the only way to break through the State paid CPS, evaluator and ad litem lies, fraud and corruption. Returned my littlest one when everyone together except State paid criminals told the Judge to return her home and there was nothing in this world which could break the child-parents-family bond even after over 3 years of New Jersey State terror and clear cut fraud and violation of constitutional rights against her and our entire extended families.
LikeLike