Situating children in divorce mediation in South Africa and Australia: A comparative study

Abstract

This study focuses on situating children in divorce mediation in South Africa and Australia. This study investigates how South Africa and Australia have domesticated and are implementing relevant international laws and policies that allows hearing the voices of children in divorce mediation. This study found that South Africa and Australia do not have specific legislation that provides hearing in the child's voice in divorce mediation. However, the Australian government funds on-going research to improve the hearing of a child's voice in divorce mediation. Aided by government funding, Australia has developed unique techniques to listen to the child's voice during divorce mediation. The special priority afforded to children’s rights in South Africa and Australia is justified under the Capabilities approach cost-effectiveness principle because it prevents a spiralling need for state intervention later in the lives of its citizens. Some of the techniques used by the Australian government go beyond the requirements of the UNCRC and ACRWC. For example, some FRCs employ technology to screen for child abuse before hearing a child's voice in divorce mediation. Like the Office of the Family Advocate in South Africa, FRCs use a teamwork approach where child consultants and mediators work together to listen to the child's voice during divorce mediation.