Children's Participation in Family Law Proceedings: A Step Too Far or a Step Too Small?

The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 established children's rights to have their views considered in family law proceedings. These rights go further than elsewhere in the UK: in requiring parents to consult their children when making any ‘major decision’, in creating a range of mechanisms for children to state their views and through facilitating children becoming party to legal proceedings if they are legally competent. Such rights are not without controversy, either in abstract (Is it in children's best interests to be involved in court proceedings? Should children have such rights?) or in practice (Do children and parents know of these rights and accompanying duties? How do legal professionals judge a child's competency?). This paper explores such controversies, using findings from a feasibility study undertaken with children, parents and legal professionals.     

Prisoners' Families and the Regulation of Contact

This article explores HM Prison Service policy and the impact of case law on the rights of prisoners to family contact. First, state provision and policy for prisoner-family contact is reviewed and the constraints imposed on contact over the past decade are explored. A number of legal challenges to these constraints have been made recently and, drawing on domestic case law and challenges in the European Court of Human Rights we explore the nature of prisoners' rights of contact in prison. This analysis shows that while fathers' rights for indirect contact are upheld, their rights are not respected as much as those of mothers in cases of direct contact and also that men unable to establish family life have their rights further eroded. Drawing upon empirical research findings as well as case law, the relationship between the Prison Act 1952 and the Children Act 1989 is considered and policy recommendations are put forward.     

Getting to Grips with Sexual Grooming? The New Offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003

In recent years, there has been increased societal concern regarding the dangers posed to children by sexual abuse and other related acts. For the main part, this article examines the new offence of meeting a child following sexual grooming under Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. I will address the question of whether the introduction of this offence is likely to meet the Government's aim of providing greater protection for children against behaviour associated with sexual abuse. In particular, I will consider how difficult it will be to prove the existence of a harmful ulterior intent in order to make out the offence and why the Government has opted to create this specific offence rather than utilise the existing law of criminal attempt. I will argue that the new offence is a step in the right direction and that the current protection offered to children will be significantly extended by its introduction.     

德国《基本法》中的社会国家原则

从语义解释的角度看,社会国家原则在《联邦德国基本法》(以下简称《基本法》)文本中不具有显著地位,且内容不够明确;但从体系解释而言,该原则享有不得修改的宪法基本原则的突出地位。社会国家原则产生的历史则表明,该原则具有弥补《基本法》中社会基本权利缺失的功能。但社会国家的目的以及社会国家原则保障的基本权利都必须通过立法者制定的法律来加以具体化。联邦宪法法院在发挥社会国家原则的宪法规范功能以及确定社会国家的最低宪法标准方面起到了重要作用。社会国家原则在联邦宪法法院的判决中一般与基本权利条款、基本权利限制条款以及社会国家的目标一起发挥作用,被用来为立法者设定社会权利保护义务或论证限制基本权利的法律规范的正当性。     

论“涉众型”经济犯罪被害人经济权利救济的困境及出路

办理"涉众型"经济犯罪案件的重点和难点在于如何最大限度地为被害人挽回经济损失。对"涉众型"经济犯罪被害人经济权利进行救济,须重构防范与保全结合型的财产控制机制、建构特殊类型案件民事救济程序独立于刑事诉讼程序的运行机制、建立健全长效机制破解民事赔偿判决执行难、构建恢复性司法理念指导下的被害人救济三元刑事诉讼模式、建立"涉众型"经济犯罪被害人国家救助制度。     

Guidelines for Brief Focused Assessment: AFCC Task Force on Brief Focused Assessments.

The Association of Family and Conciliations Courts (AFCC) Task on Brief Focused Assessment was convened in 2007 to study the issues inherent in the use of brief focused assessment models in family courts. The resultant “Guidelines for Brief Focused Assessment” were approved by the AFCC Board of Directors in 2009 and are presented here to prompt discussion and further dialogue about this clearly needed practice.

Key Points for the Family Court Community
• Issue‐specific assessments are increasingly requested by family court judges
• Practice guidelines for clinicians conducting brief focused assessments (BFAs)
• Types of issues/questions appropriate for BFAs
• Advantages and pitfalls of BFAs
• Comparison of BFAs and comprehensive child custody evaluations

     

试论行政立法与人权保障--兼以行政许可为例分析

行政立法应当以保障和不侵犯人权来证成自己道义上的正当性.为了保障人权,必须对行政立法的权限和目标进行控制.行政立法不得限制基本人权,对非基本人权的限制也要程度适当.行政立法必须制约行政权力、保障行政相对人权利.在行政许可设定上只有坚持法律保留原则、依法设定原则、许可设定公开原则、公众参与原则,限制行政许可设定的范围,贯彻行政立法的"无为"精神和有限政府的理念,才有利于保障公民的权利与自由.     

从ACTA看国际知识产权保护的趋势与动向

ACTA是由美、日等知识产权强国发起的旨在全面加强国际贸易中知识产权保护的诸边协议。ACTA内容广泛,主要包括知识产权保护的民事、行政、刑事、边境及数字环境执法等四类措施和保护手段,较之《TRIPS协议》,ACTA在知识产权执法水平上提出了更高的要求,进一步凸显了知识产权国际保护的发展趋势。     

行政诉讼原告资格的利害关系要件分析

“利害关系”可以被分解为“权益”和“因果关系”两个要素。“权益”要素的判断存在“法律上权益说”和“事实上的权益说” ,但二者在实践中呈融合之势 ;“因果关系”要素操作性不强 ,难以把握 ,在全球呈枯萎之势 ;在“法律上权益说”的构架下 ,“因果关系”有被“权益”吸收的可能。我国宜采用“权益”要素为主、“因果关系”要素为辅的模式解决原告资格问题。