University of Utrecht, UCERF

As part of Utrecht University's Dynamics of Youth research theme, we made a video for children from the age of eight about their rights in the event of a divorce for the University's YouTube channel. The video is now also used by various interest groups, mediators and courts. The right to participation is one of the fundamental rights of children. This right is protected, inter alia, by Article 12 of the United Nations International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Scientific studies show that children in The Netherlands participate little in family and youth matters (including divorce cases). One of the reasons is that children often do not even know that they have participation rights. The video already aims to inform children about their participation rights when parents divorce. In divorce cases, children can – depending on their age and the relationship form of the parents – participate at three moments, namely when: i) the parents draw up the parenting plan; ii) the court decides on the divorce, and, iii) a dispute has arisen about the exercise of custody during or after the divorce. These three moments in a divorce are central to the video. The script of the animation written at language level F1 (end of primary school level). The illustrations are simple and inclusive. A calm color palette has been used that sometimes illustrates the emotions.

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