Advisory Group on International Collaboration in Family Law - Terms of Reference

Background

2019 marks 15 years judicial cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region with the following courts:

• Indonesia (since 2004) – engagement with Supreme Court of Indonesia and the Religious Courts (the family courts for Muslim citizens) and the General Courts (for non-Muslims). The relationship with the Supreme Court of Indonesia is underpinned with an MOU on judicial collaboration.
• Fiji since 2005– engagement with the Fiji Family Court since its establishment

The FCoA have on-going collaborations with numbers of other courts in the region:

• Malaysia – (Sharia Courts)
• Palau
• Philippines
• PNG
• Viet Nam (through UNICEF)
• Vanuatu
• Zimbabwe

What

The Advisory Group on International Collaboration in Family Law is being established to:

1. Provide a forum to explore ideas and practice in the delivery of justice in family law and family violence in the Asia-Pacific region
2. Coordinate collaboration requests from judiciaries in the Asia-Pacific region
3. Draft applications to fund regional and bilateral judicial collaborations
4. Provide brief to CJ FCoA for bi-annual Council of Chief Justices’ meeting
5. Arrange an annual session at the FCoA annual judges meeting to provide an update to judges on the collaborations the FCoA is involved in
6. Connect the Advisory Group on International Collaboration in Family Law with the Hague Network

Who

Family Court of Australia

• CJ
• DCJ
• Ryan J - Chair
• Austin J
• Williams J
• Kirstin Attard – Secretariat

Federal Circuit Court of Australia

• Judge Boyle

Law & Development Partners

• Leisha Lister
• Cate Sumner

When

• Biannually – annual judges conference & 1 other
• Liaise with Chair and Secretariat on monthly basis