Mediation in the resolution of international child abduction cases was the main topic of a virtual conference organized by highly experienced international judges. The event was aimed at magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), magistrates and judges from the Family, Childhood, and Adolescence Jurisdiction, disciplinary teams, and mediators of the Judicial Branch. The inauguration was led by the president magistrate of the CSJ, María Eugenia López Arias.
The conference featured magistrate Maribel Cornejo Batista from the Second Criminal Chamber of the CSJ and coordinator of Alternative Conflict Resolution Methods of the Judicial Branch, as well as magistrate Angela Russo de Cedeño from the First Civil Chamber and member of the High-Level Commission of the Justice and Gender Access Unit.
During the opening, magistrate López Arias highlighted the importance of mediation in cases of international child abduction. She mentioned that Panama has had previous experiences in this field, where, although a definitive solution was not achieved, communication between parents was restored, which was crucial for the minors involved.
López Arias also mentioned that early identification of these cases is fundamental for achieving a quick and effective resolution, thereby avoiding a prolonged process that could cause further harm to the minors. In this regard, she emphasized that the CSJ issued an agreement regulating the Judicial Mediation Service in Cases of International Child Abduction to promote amicable resolution of international family disputes.
During the training, the participation of international experts such as Judge Stephen Cobb from London, Judge Martina Erb-Klünemann from Germany, and Judge Victoria Bennett from Australia was included. The importance of mediation in these cases was also addressed by Florencia Castro from the Hague Conference on Private International Law for Latin America and the Caribbean. Mediation in international child abduction cases was the main focus of discussions, highlighting the benefits of this resource in resolving international family conflicts.
