The Best Interests of the Child: The Content of the Concept and its Place in Russian Family Law

The article deals with the content of the concept "the interests of the child" as it is understood in Russian and international law. It is noted that, while Russian scholars define the content of the concept, the western authors, acting within the framework of the presumption that there is no need to maintain the exhaustive content of the concept, examine the practice of its application, namely, which acts undertaken by state authorities amount to respect of the interests of the child and which ones result in their violation. The author analyses the weight given to the interests of the child in balancing various rights and interests. Whereas in international law the best interests of the child are assessed and taken into account as a priority and overriding consideration, in Russian family law the priority is given to the interests of the family as a union. The author concludes that including the "best interests of the child" into the principles of family law will help to reduce the number of cases when children are unreasonably taken from the family, which is in line with the objectives of the family law reform.

best interests of the child, accountability for the interest of the child (child-sensitive), Russian family law, Family Policy, foundations of Russian family law, International law, reform, taking children away from parents, rights of the child, family

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