CHILD PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY AND CHILD PROTECTION MATTERS IN PORTUGAL

This paper examines how children participate in family and child protection cases within Portugal's justice system. It is part of an international collaborative research project led by the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates. The article describes the legal frameworks, institutional structures, and procedural mechanisms that enable or govern child participation in these judicial matters.

Key points

• The paper addresses child participation specifically in family and child protection matters handled by the justice system
• It is part of a collaborative international research initiative on this topic
• The focus is on legal, institutional and procedural aspects of child participation in Portugal

Limitations

The abstract provides only a high-level overview of the paper's scope and does not detail specific findings, recommendations, or empirical data about how effectively children participate or what barriers exist. We cannot determine whether the paper makes normative arguments or presents research evidence.