We’d like to make Irish legal and social science researchers aware of an exciting opportunity to carry out a 12 month masters-level research programme, sponsored by the Mediators Institute of Ireland, under the IRC Enterprise Partnership Scheme.
The programme will involve an international comparative analysis of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the practice of child-inclusive mediation.
The researcher will identify:
- What organisations offer child inclusive mediation, State or private or research projects?
- What training is required specifically for hearing the voice of the child?
- What competency is required?
- Identify any mechanisms for a child advocate to speak for or support the child in mediation?
- The legal basis for hearing the voice of the child in mediation and compliance with international and national law?
- How often often are children’s voices heard in mediation across the jurisdictions, and at what age, and what issues arise?
- Any inter-jurisdictional legal issues that may arise?
- Available information in the aforementioned or comparable jurisdictions on whether meeting with children improves the outcomes in family mediations?
The study will mainly consist of secondary research of existing publications, studies etc from organisations involved in child law, child advocacy, family law and family mediation, within the aforementioned jurisdictions. Primary survey-based research may be carried out where appropriate but this isn’t anticipated to be a significant part of the study.
To find out more, please contact Dr Roisin O’Shea