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Under Article 388-1 of the French Civil Code, passed in 1993 to comply with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children are given voices and representation in the French legal system. In all proceedings relating to a child, he or she may be heard by judge or third party substitute should he be �capable of discernment.� To be considered capable of discernment, a minor must �truly understand what he or she will do and what will happen� in the proceedings.[2] Moreover � except in the case of certain emergency measures � court procedure mandates that juvenile judges both hear minors �capable of judgment� and disclose to these minors information concerning the nature and purpose of the proceedings.
Children may be heard alone or with the assistance of either counsel or a person of their own choosing. Where the interests of the chosen representative appear to conflict with those of the child, the judge may appoint an additional guardian or representative. Any expenses occurred by judge-appointed representatives or child-selected counsel are covered by the government-run legal aid agency.
France is a signatory to the ECECR as well as the UNCRC.[3]
Original Text Code Civil[4]
Titre IX: De l'autorité parentale Chapitre Ier: De l'autorité parentale relativement à la personne de l'enfant
Section 2:De l'assistance éducative
Art. 375 Si la santé, la sécurité ou la moralité d'un mineur non émancipé sont en danger, ou si les conditions de son éducation sont gravement compromises, des mesures d'assistance éducative peuvent être ordonnées par justice à la requête des père et mère conjointement, ou de l'un d'eux, de la personne ou du service à qui l'enfant a été confié ou du tuteur, du mineur lui-même ou du ministère public. Le juge peut se saisir d'office à titre exceptionnel.
Art. 375-1
Art. 375-2
Section 4:Du retrait total ou partiel de l'autorité parentale
Art. 378-1
Titre X: De la minorité, de la tutelle et de l'émancipation
Chapitre I: De la minorité; Chapitre II: De la tutelle
Art. 388-1 Dans toute procédure le concernant, le mineur capable de discernement peut, sans préjudice des dispositions prévoyant son intervention ou son consentement, être entendu par le juge ou la personne désignée par le juge à cet effet.
. . . Art. 389-3 L'administrateur légal représentera le mineur dans tous les actes civils, sauf les cas dans lesquels la loi ou l'usage autorise les mineurs à agir eux-mêmes.
Quand ses intérêts sont en opposition avec ceux du mineur, il doit faire nommer un administrateur ad hoc par le juge des tutelles. À défaut de diligence de l'administrateur légal, le juge peut procéder à cette nomination à la demande du ministère public, du mineur lui-même ou d'office.
Ne sont pas soumis à l'administration légale, les biens qui auraient été donnés ou légués au mineur sous la condition qu'ils seraient administrés par un tiers. Ce tiers administrateur aura les pouvoirs qui lui auront été conférés par la donation ou le testament ; à défaut, ceux d'un administrateur légal sous contrôle judiciaire.
Nouveau Code de Procédure Civile[5]
Livre III: Dispositions particulières à certaines matières
Titre Ier: Les personnes
Section 2: L'assistance éducative
Si l'instruction n'est pas terminée dans le délai prévu à l'alinéa précédent, le juge peut , après avis du procureur de la République, proroger ce délai pour une durée qui ne peut excéder six mois.
Art. 1186 Le mineur capable de discernement, le père, la mère, le tuteur ou la personne ou le représentant du service à qui l'enfant a été confié peuvent faire choix d'un conseil ou demander au juge que le bâtonnier leur en désigne un d'office. La désignation doit intervenir dans les huit jours de la demande.
. . . Art. 1189
À l'audience, le juge entend le mineur, ses père et mère, tuteur ou personne ou représentant du service à qui l'enfant a été confié ainsi que toute autre personne dont l'audition lui paraît utile. Il peut dispenser le mineur de se présenter ou ordonner qu'il se retire pendant tout ou partie de la suite des débats.
Les conseils des parties sont entendus en leurs observations. L'affaire est instruite et jugée en chambre du conseil, après avis du ministère public.
Loi no 93-22 du 8 janvier 1993 modifiant le code civil relatif à l'état civil, à la famille et aux droits de l'enfant et instituant le juge aux affaires familiales (1)[6]
Chapitre V: L'audition de l'enfant en justice et la défense de ses intérêts
Art. 54. � Il est inséré, dans la loi no 91-647 du 10 juillet 1991 relative à l'aide juridique, un article 9-1 ainsi rédigé:
<<Art. 9-1. - Dans toute procédure le concernant, le mineur entendu dans les conditions mentionnées à l'article 388-1 du code civil, s'il choisit d'être entendu avec un avocat ou si le juge procède à la désignation d'un avocat, bénéficie de droit de l'aide juridictionnelle.>>
Book I: Of Persons
Title IX: Of Parental Authority
Chapter I:Of Parental Authority with regard to the Person of a Child
Section 2:Of Educational Assistance
Where the health, security or morality of a not emancipated minor are imperilled, or where the conditions of his education are seriously endangered, measures of educational assistance may be judicially ordered on request of the father and mother jointly, or of one of them, "of the person or body to whom the child was entrusted" or of the guardian, of the minor himself or of the Government procurator's office. Exceptionally, the judge may be seized of his own motion. They may be ordered at the same time with regard to several children dependent on a same parental authority.
The decision shall fix the duration of the measure without exceeding two years, where it relates to an educational measure implemented by a service or body. A measure may be renewed by a judgment setting out the grounds on which it is based.
The juvenile judge shall have jurisdiction, subject to appeal, in all matters relating to educational assistance.
He shall always endeavour to secure the adhesion of the family to the measure contemplated.
Whenever possible, a minor must be kept in his present circle. In that case, the judge shall designate, either a qualified person, or a service of observation, education or rehabilitation in the free community, with the mission of bringing aid and counsel to the family in order to overcome the material or moral difficulties which it is encountering. That person or service shall be responsible for following the development of the child and making a periodical report of it to the judge. The judge may also make the keeping of the child in his circle conditional on specific obligations, such as that of regularly attending a medical or educational institution, ordinary or specialized, or of exercising a professional activity. Book I: Of Persons
Section 4:Of the Total or Partial Withdrawal of Parental Authority
Art. 378 By express provision of a criminal judgment, parental authority may be "totally withdrawn" from the father and mother who are sentenced either as perpetrators, co-perpetrators or accomplices of a serious or ordinary offence committed on the person of their child, or as co-perpetrators or accomplices of a serious or ordinary offence committed by their child.
That "withdrawal" may be applied to ascendants other than the father and mother as regards that part of parental authority that they may have over their descendants. Art. 378-1
The father and mother who "apart from any criminal sentence, either by maltreatment, or by usual and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages or drug addiction, or by a notorious misconduct or criminal activities" or by lack of care or want of guidance, obviously endanger the security, health or morality of the child, "may be totally withdrawn parental authority." The father and mother who, for more than two years, have intentionally abstained from exercising the rights and fulfilling the duties they retained under Article 375-7, may likewise "be totally withdrawn parental authority" An action "for total withdrawal of parental authority" shall be brought before the tribunal de grande instance, either by the Government procurator's office, or by a member of the family or by the child's guardian. Art. 388-1 In all proceedings relating to him, a minor capable of discernment may, without prejudice to the provisions as to his intervention or consent, be heard by the judge or the person appointed by the judge for that purpose. Where a minor so requests, his hearing may be denied only by a judgment setting out specially the grounds on which it is based.
He may be heard alone, with a counsel or a person of his choice. Where that choice does not appear to be consonant with the welfare of the child, the judge may appoint another person. The hearing of a minor does not confer on him the status of a party to the proceedings.
Where, in a lawsuit, the interests of a minor appear to be in conflict with those of his statutory representatives, the judge of guardianships in the manner provided for in Article 389-3, or, failing which, the judge who is seized of the case shall appoint an ad hoc administrator who has the responsibility to represent him.
. . . Art. 389-3
A statutory administrator acts as an agent for the minor in all civil transactions, except cases where the law or usage authorizes minors to act for themselves.
Where his interests are in conflict with those of the minor, he must have an administrator ad hoc appointed by the judge of guardianships. "In the absence of any suit of the statutory administrator, the judge may undertake that appointment on request of the Government procurator's office, of the minor himself or of his own motion." Property donated or bequeathed to a minor under the condition that it shall be administered by a third person is not subject to statutory administration. That third person administrator has the powers conferred on him by the gift or will; failing which, those of an administrator under judicial supervision. New Code of Civil Procedure[9]
Book III: Specific provisions in relation to certain subject matters
Title I: Persons
Chapter IX: Parental authority
Section 2: Educational Assistance
Educational support measures shall be taken by a judge in charge of children's affairs, as the case may be, of the place where the father, the mother or the tutor of the minor lives or by the judge of the place where the person or institution that has the child's custody or, failing that, by the judge of the place where the child lives.
When the person mentioned in the preceding paragraph changes his place of residence, the judge shall relinquish the case in favour of the judge of the place of the new residence except a contrary legitimate ruling.
As it is provided for in Article L228-4 of the Social Action and Families Code, in case of change of département, the president of the Regional Council of the previous residence and that of the new one shall be informed of the relinquishment. Art. 1182
The judge shall inform the public prosecutor about the opening of the proceedings. Likewise, he shall inform the father, mother, tutor, the person or institution that has the child's custody when they are not applicants.
He shall hear the father, mother, tutor, the person or the institution that has the child's custody as well as the minor capable of judgement and shall bring to their knowledge the purposes of the proceedings.
He shall hear every other person whose hearing deems to him useful.
The notice about the opening of the proceedings and the summons sent to the father and mother, tutor, person or representative of the institution that has the child's custody and the minor shall make reference to the rights of the parties to choose an attorney or ask for designation of one ex officio in conformity with the provisions of Article 1186. The notice and summons shall inform the parties about their right to consult the file in conformity with the provisions of Article 1187.
Art. 1183 The judge may, either ex officio or at the suit of parties or that of the public prosecutor, order a preliminary investigation on the personality and the living conditions of the minor and that of his parents, in particular by means of a social inquiry, medical, psychiatric and psychological examinations or by virtue of educational investigation and guidance.
The interim measures provided for in the first sub-article of Article 375-5 of the Civil Code and the measure of notice provided for in Article 1183 of this code may be taken, except in case of specially motivated emergency, only if the hearing, as it is provided for in Article 1182, of the father, mother, tutor, the person or the representative of the institution that has the child's custody and that of the minor capable of judgement is done.
When the custody has been urgently decided by the judge without hearing the parties, he shall summon them within fifteen days from the date of his decision. Want of this, the minor shall be returned, at their suit, to his father, mother, tutor, the person or institution that has the child's custody.
When the public prosecutor, after ordering the temporary custody as a matter of urgency, refers the case, in conformity with the provisions of Article 375-5 of the Civil Code, to the judge, the latter shall summon the parties and shall rule the case within fifteen days. Want of that, the minor shall be returned, at their suit, to his father, mother, tutor, the person or institution that has his custody.
The judge in charge of children's affairs of the place where the minor has been found, too, may take temporary measures, if urgency justifies them, without prejudice to the provisions of the second sub-article of Article 375-5 of the Civil Code, on condition that he relinquishes the case within one month in favour of the territorially competent judge.
The ruling on the substance of the case shall be made within six months' period from the date said ruling on the interim measures. Want of that, the child shall be returned to his father, mother, tutor, the person or institution that has the child's custody at their suit.
If the investigation is not completed within the time limit provided for in the preceding sub-article, the judge may, after the opinion of the public prosecutor, prolong this time limit for a period not exceeding six months.
Art. 1186 The minor capable of judgement, the father, mother, tutor, the person or the representative of the institution that has the child's custody may choose an attorney or ask the judge that the president of the bar designates one for them ex officio. The designation shall intervene within eight days from the date of request. This right shall be noticed to the interested parties during their first hearing.
At the hearing, the judge shall hear the minor, father and mother, tutor or entity or representative of the department in whose care the child has been placed as well as any other person whose testimony shall be deemed proper. He may dispense the minor with the need to appear or may order that he shall not be present in court for part or all of the oral arguments.
The representatives of the parties shall be heard in their submissions.
The matter shall be managed and determined in chambers, once the public minister has indicated his opinion.
Law no. 93-22 of January 8, 1993 modifying the Civil Code with respect to the civil state, to the family and its rights, and to the rights of the child in dealing with the judge in family affairs (1)[10]
Chapter V: The hearing of the child in justice and the protection of his interests
Translation (The following translation was done by Patrick Geary, JD 2005. It is not an official translation and is provided for reference purposes only):
Art. 54 � It is inserted, in Law no. 91-647 of July 10, 1991 regarding legal aid, a new article 9-1 reading: �Art. 9-1. In every procedure concerning him, a minor heard under the conditions outlined in article 388 of the civil code � should he choose to be represented by a lawyer or if the judge assigns him a lawyer � will benefit from the laws covering legal assistance. Additional Resources and Links
40 Quai Gailleton
+33 4 78 78 73 17
[2] For a description of how this works, see http://www.droitsenfant.com.
[3] For an analysis of children's rights to expression under the ECECR, see Patrick Geary, A Child's Right to Expression in the Courtroom Under International Conventions on the Rights of Children and French National Law , available here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[4] C. Civ. arts. 375, 375-1, 375-2, 378, 378-1, 379, 388-1, 388-2, 389-3., available at http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/.
[5] N.C.P.C. arts. 1181-86, 1189, available at http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/.
[6] Law no. 93-22 of Jan. 8, 1993 available at http://www.legislation.cnav.fr/document/bnl/textes/loi/TLR-LOI_9322_08011993.htm.
[7] The following translations are courtesy of Legifrance, available at http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/. They are not official, and are provided for reference purposes only.
[8] C. Civ. arts. 375, 375-1, 375-2, 378, 378-1, 379, 388-1, 388-2, 389-3., available at http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/.
[9] N.C.P.C. arts. 1181-86, 1189, available at http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/
[10] Unofficial translation by Partick Geary, Yale Law School J.D. 2005.

References: Art. 375

Art. 375

Art. 375

Art. 378

Art. 388
 Art. 389

Art. 1186
 Art. 1189

Art. 54
 l'article 388

Art. 378
 Art. 378
 Art. 388
 Art. 389
 Art. 1182

Art. 1183

Art. 1186

Art. 54