{"id":59955,"date":"2023-02-21T18:29:15","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T18:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/?p=59955"},"modified":"2025-12-14T04:38:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T04:38:15","slug":"the-best-interest-of-the-child-as-put-into-practice-worldwide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-best-interest-of-the-child-as-put-into-practice-worldwide\/","title":{"rendered":"<strong>The best interest of the child as put into practice worldwide<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>The principle of the&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>best interests of the child<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;is one of the four general guiding principles on&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>children&#8217;s rights<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;(right to&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/discrimination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>non-discrimination<\/strong><\/a><strong>,&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>best interests<\/strong><\/a><strong>,&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>right to life<\/strong><\/a><strong>,&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>survival<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/declaration-on-the-right-to-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>development,<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-inclusion-and-participation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>right to participation<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>right to express opinions<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;that are considered). It is closely related to Article 3(1) of the&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;and Article 24(1) of the Charter of Fundamental&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Rights<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;of the European Union. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Both instruments give children the&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>right to have their best interests<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;assessed and taken into account in all actions or decisions affecting them, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts, administrative authorities or legislative bodies (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2021).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What does the best interest of the child imply?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>&nbsp;is a threefold concept that includes a substantive right, a fundamental and interpretive legal principle, and a rule of procedure that aims to ensure the full and effective enjoyment of all the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rights<\/a>&nbsp;recognized in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)<\/a>&nbsp;and whose primary consideration is to ensure the holistic development of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-rights\/\">child<\/a> (EMN &#8211; European Migration Network, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Holistic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">child<\/a>&nbsp;development refers to the well-being of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">child<\/a>&nbsp;in a broad sense, which includes basic material, physical, educational and emotional needs as well as the need for affection and security (EMN, 2021). The&nbsp;child\u2019s interest assessment is a simple and continuous procedure that should be undertaken in individual cases where decisions need to be made for an individual&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">child<\/a>, in light of the specific circumstances of each child or group of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">children,<\/a>&nbsp;and should evaluate and balance all the elements necessary to make a decision in a specific situation for a particular child or group of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">children&nbsp;<\/a>(UNHCR, 2006).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59956\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_2036186198-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) enshrines the principle of the best interests of the child, i.e., it stipulates that in every law, public or private initiative, and in every problematic situation, the best interests of the child must be given preeminent consideration. More specifically, Article 3 of the CRC expressly states: \u201cIn all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.\u201d (Unicef, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>&nbsp;determination,&nbsp;therefore,&nbsp;describes a formal process with strict procedural safeguards designed to determine their best interest&nbsp;for particularly important decisions affecting the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">child.<\/a>&nbsp;It should facilitate&nbsp;the&nbsp;appropriate participation of children without discrimination, involve decision-makers with relevant areas of expertise, and balance all relevant factors in order to evaluate the best option (European Commission, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The&nbsp;principle of the best interest&nbsp;of the child&nbsp;as&nbsp;applied in&nbsp;European courts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Within a few years of its solemn introduction, the principle of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> of the child<\/a>&nbsp;has been incorporated within numerous conventions and documents protecting children, both internationally and within individual states, and its use has begun to characterize the decisions of courts at every latitude (Unicef, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The context in which the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest&nbsp;of the child<\/a>&nbsp;has found greater acceptance and has begun to take on less indeterminate connotations is undoubtedly that relating to the jurisprudence of the European Court of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Rights<\/a>. However, in the face of an increasingly frequent recourse to the stereotypical formula \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> of the child<\/a>\u201d, there have been over the years a number of judicial decisions with very conflicting effects (Council of Europe Portal, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the aim of finding the substantive content of this concept, within the different subject areas and in different geographic locations, it can be seen that the issues that have emerged differ considerably according to the context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/europe-caucasus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>, it has been noted that the principle has developed mainly in relation to cases concerning Article 8 (a norm that protects the right to private and family life), in at least four different contexts and, more specifically, in relation to the right of the child in cases of adoption or foster care, to the right of the child to know their origins, to the right of the foreign child, and finally to the right of the child in cases of international&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention-on-the-civil-aspects-of-international-child-abduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">abduction<\/a>&nbsp;(Council of Europe Portal, 2021). However, it is interesting to note that within the European context, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>&nbsp;has been declined in different ways depending on the case under examination.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59957\" width=\"490\" height=\"327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1023017878-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 490px) 100vw, 490px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The most iconic example in the jurisprudence of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/europe-caucasus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European Union<\/a>&nbsp;is represented by the Zarraga case, concerning a divorce petition before the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spanish<\/a>&nbsp;courts, in which both parents sought sole custody of the child. The custody was granted to the father who lived in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spain<\/a>, with the possibility to visit the mother in&nbsp;Germany. After a vacation in&nbsp;Germany, the child had not returned to Spain; the mother claimed that the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>, namely their right to be heard, had been violated, and requested on these bases that the child be heard to reevaluate the custody issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With regards to the alleged violation of Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, which provides for the right of the child to be heard, the Court of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/luxembourg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Luxembourg<\/a>&nbsp;noted that it is up to the judge who must rule on the return of a minor to assess whether or not it is appropriate to conduct such a hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, although it takes the form of a right of the minor, the hearing cannot be considered an absolute obligation but must be the subject of careful evaluation by the judge. The judge decided that the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>&nbsp;is best protected in the form of the child\u2019s habitual residence, in this case&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spain<\/a>, and, for this reason, the abducted child should return there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The best interest of the child in the context of Latin America<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/americas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Latin American<\/a>\u00a0context, however, the principle of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-childs-best-interest\/#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20child%27s,account%20the%20child%27s%20best%20interest.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interests<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">child<\/a>\u00a0undergoes considerable development only following the introduction of Opini\u00f3n Consultiva OC-17\/02 on &#8220;Condici\u00f3n Juridica y Derechos Humanos del Ni\u00f1o,&#8221; rendered by the Court of San Jos\u00e9 in 2002. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The judges of the Inter-American Court, therefore, begin to make use of the criterion of the &#8220;inter\u00e9s superi\u00f3r del ni\u00f1o&#8221; with respect to cases of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/inter-american-convention-on-forced-disappearance-of-persons-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">enforced disappearances<\/a>\u00a0and mass\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/infanticide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">murders<\/a>, in relation to the phenomenon of institutionalized practices of violence against certain\u00a0social groups and, only more recently, with reference to requests for adoptions by homosexual or single persons (Unicef , 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/americas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Latin America<\/a>, the best interest is also frequently used with regard to health issues. In this context, it is important to note a pronouncement, case &#8220;N.N. o D., v. s\/ protecci\u00f3n y guarda de personas&#8221; of 2012,&nbsp;in which the judges of the Court analyzed the profile of the child&#8217;s right to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">health<\/a>&nbsp;with regard to a parent&#8217;s refusal to bring their child to the ritual medical vaccinations in accordance with the state mandatory vaccination plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The judges of the Court, argued that when faced with a parent&#8217;s refusal to have their child access the vaccination plan, it is possible and necessary to act in a compulsory manner, and affirmed that the exercise of parental responsibility is not absolute, since this meets as a limit precisely the best interest of the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having clarified this aspect, the judges of the Court also pointed out that, in some cases, the family&#8217;s right to privacy may be limited by the intervention of the state placed in defense of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the best interest of the child<\/a>, as a vulnerable subject in need of protection, protected by a regime, whose major characteristic, consists in letting their interest prevail over all the interests involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, in both the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/europe-caucasus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/americas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Latin American<\/a>&nbsp;contexts, it could be observed how the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>&nbsp;is declined in different manners with the aim to better protect the child and more flexibly assess the needs of the concrete situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What more can be done to ensure the best interest of the child?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best interest of the child represents an outstanding evolution in&nbsp;child protection\u2019s&nbsp;jurisprudence. However,&nbsp;much still needs to be done in order to uniform the legislation worldwide. it is necessary to make every&nbsp;effort&nbsp;to begin to develop or further strengthen the system of cooperation between domestic and international jurisdictions&nbsp;since&nbsp;the credibility and the effectiveness of systems that protect human rights&nbsp;rest precisely on the protection of the most vulnerable among us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, to make the principle of the best interest of the child truly &#8220;effective&#8221;, it would be necessary for the States to guarantee satisfaction to the victims of violations, remedy domestic irregularities and implement the reforms necessary to bring national order in line with the international order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the United Nations, NGOs, and civil society can contribute to the elaboration of guidelines for Courts to be followed in proceedings. These guidelines must be flexible and take into consideration the balancing of diverging interests. Indeed, the real challenge is to establish a hierarchy among the different rights, and this task can finally be performed only by the courts, the sole arbiter witnessing the concrete case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-830x554.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-230x154.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-350x234.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1828690010-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Humanium is proudly committed to contributing to the work towards a world where the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-principle-of-the-best-interest-of-the-child\/%20?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best interest of the child<\/a>&nbsp;is effectively prioritized. Humanium as an organization is actively working on&nbsp;field projects&nbsp;developed in light of the best interest of the child. Moreover, through its advocacy work, Humanium has actively participated in several working groups where the best interest of the child was the primary concern in issues such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">child labor<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-trafficking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">human trafficking<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/focus-on\/environment\/climate-emergency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">environmental rights<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">education<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/humanium-at-the-forefront-of-the-protection-of-childrens-rights-in-armed-conflicts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">armed conflicts<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you too would like to contribute to the fulfilment of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">children\u2019s rights<\/a>&nbsp;around the world, consider making a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/donation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">donation<\/a>, becoming a Humanium&nbsp;member&nbsp;or joining the Humanium community by becoming a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/participate\/volunteer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">volunteer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Written by Federica Versea<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For more information:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Case C-491\/10 PPU, Zarraga, 22 December 2010, available at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/curia.europa.eu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bibliography<\/strong>:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021).&nbsp;<em>Determining the Best Interests of the Child<\/em>. Taken from&nbsp;https:\/\/www.childwelfare.gov\/pubpdfs\/best_interest.pdf,&nbsp;accessed on January 18, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Council of Europe Portal. (2021).&nbsp;<em>Newsroom on Children&#8217;s Rights New study on the protection of the best interests of the child in situations of parental separation<\/em>. Taken from Council of Europe Portal :&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coe.int\/en\/web\/children\/-\/new-study-on-the-protection-of-the-best-interests-of-the-child-in-situations-of-parental-separation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.coe.int\/en\/web\/children\/-\/new-study-on-the-protection-of-the-best-interests-of-the-child-in-situations-of-parental-separation<\/a>,&nbsp;accessed on January 19, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">EMN &#8211; European Migration Network. (2021).&nbsp;<em>Superiore interesse del minore<\/em>.&nbsp;Taken from Superiore interesse del minore:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.emnitalyncp.it\/definizione\/superiore-interesse-del-minore\/#:~:text=Il%20principio%20dell%27interesse%20superiore,che%20vengano%20prese%20in%20considerazione\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.emnitalyncp.it\/definizione\/superiore-interesse-del-minore\/#:~:text=Il%20principio%20dell%27interesse%20superiore,che%20vengano%20prese%20in%20considerazione<\/a>,&nbsp;accessed on January 18, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">European Commission. (2022).&nbsp;<em>Best interests of the child (BIC)<\/em>. Taken from Migration and Home Affairs:&nbsp;https:\/\/home-affairs.ec.europa.eu\/networks\/european-migration-network-emn\/emn-asylum-and-migration-glossary\/glossary\/best-interests-child-bic_en,&nbsp;accessed on January 17, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">UNHCR. (2006).&nbsp;<em>UNHCR Guidelines on Formal Determination of the Best Interests of the Child&nbsp;<\/em>. Taken from UNHCR:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/en-my\/4ba09bb59.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/en-my\/4ba09bb59.pdf<\/a>,&nbsp;accessed on January 18, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Unicef. (2019).&nbsp;<em>Latin America and the Caribbean &#8211; 30 years after the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/em>. Taken from Unicef:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef-irc.org\/publications\/117-child-rights-in-latin-america-from-irregular-situation-to-full-protection.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.unicef-irc.org\/publications\/117-child-rights-in-latin-america-from-irregular-situation-to-full-protection.html<\/a>, accessed on January 19, 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The principle of the&nbsp;best interests of the child&nbsp;is one of the four general guiding principles on&nbsp;children&#8217;s rights&nbsp;(right to&nbsp;non-discrimination,&nbsp;best interests,&nbsp;right to life,&nbsp;survival&nbsp;and&nbsp;development,&nbsp;right to participation&nbsp;or&nbsp;right to express opinions&nbsp;that are considered). It is closely related to Article 3(1) of the&nbsp;Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)&nbsp;and Article 24(1) of the Charter of Fundamental&nbsp;Rights&nbsp;of the European Union. Both [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":59963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,6,8,160,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-rights","category-education","category-empowerment","category-freedom","category-human-rights-programmes"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The best interest of the child as put into practice worldwide - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The principle of the\u00a0best interests of the child\u00a0is one of the four general guiding principles on\u00a0children&#039;s rights.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-best-interest-of-the-child-as-put-into-practice-worldwide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The best interest of the child as put into practice worldwide - 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