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:
- Provide a forum to explore ideas and practice in the delivery of justice in family law and family violence in the Asia-Pacific region
- Coordinate collaboration requests from judiciaries in the Asia-Pacific region
- Draft applications to fund regional and bilateral judicial collaborations
- Provide brief to CJ FCoA for bi-annual Council of Chief Justices’ meeting
- Arrange an annual session at the FCoA annual judges meeting to provide an update to judges on the collaborations the FCoA is involved in
- 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
