?
Interpreting and applying the best interests of the child: the main challenges
This article discusses the main challenges in interpreting and applying the concept of the best interests of the child. I will first present some general considerations, then specific issues related to family cases, and finally some procedural issues in the application of this concept in practice. The discussion will be based not only on what was highlighted during the European Conference on the Best Interests of the Child, but also on what we have learnt from academic writings, the jurisprudence of the European Court on Human Rights and, of course, from the General Comment No. 14 (2013) of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration. It will hopefully help to define the legal guidelines that would support professionals and policy makers in their everyday work on protection of children’s rights.