Children’s Rights
Children have a right to be involved in matters that affect their life.
This right is acknowledged internationally in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mediators encourage parents with children aged 10 years and above to give their children the opportunity to be included when decisions about their lives are being considered. If your children have younger siblings, they can also be included if the parents and the mediator agree it is appropriate.
Your children may have their own ideas about arrangements for contact and might even be able to solve an issue causing you concern.
Mediation Meetings for Children
Children attend their own mediation meeting and any information they are happy to feed back to the parents will be shared with the parents usually by the mediator, but it could be by the child/children with the help of the mediator.
Bringing children into the mediation process must be planned and the parents prepared in advance. I would spend time discussing this with you both before inviting your child to attend.
You and your child may wish to look at this video link HERE. Click on the top menu About Family Mediation, then the side menu ‘Mediation is not only for Adults’. You can read some more about Child Inclusive Mediation and view a video of Tom’s Story.