With the Brussels IIter Regulation fully in effect since August 2022, iCare2 provides a timely opportunity to support its implementation. By drawing on the results of the iCare project, using its methodology and findings, iCare2 will further develop best practices in international family mediation, particularly in international child abduction cases. The project will deliver short-term, mid-term, and long-term results.
In the short term, iCare2 will raise awareness of international family mediation and clarify the application of EU instruments in international child abduction cases. The pre-mediation desk, to be set up and piloted in France, Italy, Poland, and Bulgaria, will assess whether the family’s situation is suitable for mediation and offer support via email, telephone, or contact forms. It will provide reliable information on international family mediation, promote the best interest of the child, and help restore parent-child ties after abduction. The desks will ensure gender equality and objectivity in their interventions, with a focus on supporting both mothers and fathers in parental conflict.
In the mid-term, the iCare2 project will strengthen the capabilities of relevant stakeholders – such as, judicial professionals, national and cross-border family mediators and Central Authorities – in addressing challenges related to judicial cooperation in international child abduction cases. This will be accomplished by creating a collaborative network that facilitates the exchange of best practices and peer learning at both the national and European levels, ultimately leading to sustainable and intangible outcomes.
In the long term, iCare2 aims to strengthen cooperation between stakeholders handling international child abduction cases, mainstreaming IFM as an effective tool in the judicial process. The project will provide concrete resources, such as the iCare2 Methodology, AI chatbot, online platform, and pre-mediation desks, to improve the situation of children involved in cross-border disputes. These tools will be replicable in other contexts.
A central goal of iCare2 is to promote a “culture of family mediation” that is child-rights-based and gender-sensitive, ensuring the long-term adoption of IFM in international child abduction cases. The project also aims to contribute to the European cross-border family mediator network..