監護權中的兒童最佳利益觀點探討

Study the Concept of "The Best Interest of Child" in Custody

翁慧圓(Huei-Yuan Weng)

《當代社會工作學刊》 5期 (2005/06) Pp. 103-136

摘要

「兒童最佳利益原則」已成為當前規範親子法律與兒童福利實務之主要原則。父母離婚、收養、家庭暴力、與破碎的異國婚姻問題的日益增加，突顯了兒童監護權議題的重要性。監護權涉及親子關係的改變，其審定結果，影響兒童未來發展甚鉅。然而，「兒童最佳利益原則」卻為一抽象與不確定之法律名詞，缺乏具體化可操作之判斷基準。參與兒童監護權處遇過程之法官與社工人員，需在兒童、家長與家族的情感與利益糾葛之權力角力間，收集資料與判定，面臨了諸多倫理價值抉擇之困境。在法界對社工人員日益倚賴之際，社工人員有需要對「兒童最佳利益原則」之意涵有完整了解，並將其轉化為具體之指標。本文以依附理論、差異原則、人倫文化、及政府介入兒童權益之歷史發展，來討論「兒童最佳利益原則」觀點的形成背景：和探就這些思惟如何影響法院酌定兒童監護權的態度。從父權至上、無過失、襁褓原則、共同監護、及近年來普遍被接受的「主要照顧者」觀點，可發現「兒童最佳利益原則」在不同時空背景的改變。依循前述理論與「兒童最佳利益原則」觀點的形成背景，參酌國內外對兒童是佳利益觀點的操作內涵，本文試圖建構出監護權調查較具體化之「兒童最佳利益觀點」的評估指標與決策參考，提供實務工作者參考。最後提出「兒童最佳利益原則」實施之困境，及待改善之建議，甚盼有助於落實兒童最佳利益之目標。

關鍵字

兒童最佳利益 ； 監護權 ； 公權力介入

並列摘要

”The Doctrine of the Best Interest of Child” has become a very important rule to form the parental law and the practice in social welfare. The issue of child custody becomes prominent while the problems of divorce, adoption, family violence and broken exotic marriage are increasing. Because the child custody may bring about changes of relationship between parents and their children, the result of judgment will greatly affect the future of the children. However, ”The Best Interest of Child” is an abstract and uncertain legal term demanding a concrete and feasible criterion. The judges and social workers involved in the interference of child custody have to gather information and make judgments in a power competition mixed up the feelings and advantages of children, parent, and families, and they do have difficulties in picking and choosing proper ethical values to follow. As social workers play a more important role in laws nowadays, they have to understand the meaning of ”The Best Interest of Child” comprehensively and derive definite indexes from it The concept of ”The Best Interest of Child” are developed at the base of attachment theory, differential principle and culture, which affect the action of interfering of official authority, from the least interference to the protecting children actively, and also affect the attitude of the court toward the judgment of child custody. From the modes of the absolute parental preference, fault-base principle, tender year doctrine, joint custody to ”primary caretaker” which has been generally accepted in recent years. This article is trying to set up concrete indexes for ”the Doctrine of the Best Interest for Children”, so as to be a useful reference for practical workers. Finally this article points out difficulties in practicing ”the Doctrine of the Best Interest for Children” as well as suggestions for improvement.

並列關鍵字

The best interests for child ； custody ； The interferences of official authority