In the context of the EU co-funded project iCare2, a two-day seminar and train the trainers event will take place in Brussels on 6- 7 November 2025, hosted by Missing Children Europe and organised by Defence for Children International – Italy in partnership with the Law and Internet Foundation, Bulgaria, Drout d’Enfance France and ITAKA in Poland, as well as the University of Genoa, the Jajellonian University Krakovia and the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Building knowledge and practice:
Over two days, participants will explore:
- EU and Council of Europe frameworks on family mediation and children’s rights
- The child’s right to be heard in mediation, illustrated through research and case studies.
- National research reports and implementation practices based on the iCare European Methodology from Italy, Bulgaria, France, and Poland.
- Practical exercises on high-conflict cross-border cases.
- A new European model for pre-mediation desks, designed to make mediation more accessible for families.
The event will bring together 25 professionals from Central Authorities, academia, mediation providers, ISS, Missing Children Europe, the European Parliament, and other specialised organisations to share expertise and strengthen capacity to act in the best interests of the child.
About iCare2
The project iCare2, as continuation of the previous iCare, is supporting the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 of 25 June 2019 on jurisdiction, the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, and on international child abduction (also known as “Brussels II ter”).
iCare2 aims to strengthen international family mediation in the best interests of the child and establish pre-mediation reference points