英国家事诉讼中脆弱人员出庭制度及借鉴

Vulnerable Persons System of Family Proceedings in England & Wales and Reference to China

英国家事诉讼中重视脆弱人员的福利保障,为帮助未成年人、残疾人、家庭暴力受害人等脆弱人员有效参与家事诉讼,规定了脆弱人员出庭制度,既保护了脆弱人员不受伤害,又有利于查清事实公正审判。在贯彻“当事人亲自到庭”和“人性化”家事审判理念的背景之下,我国可在现有立法和司法的基础上借鉴英国经验,规定未成年人、家庭暴力受害人等脆弱人员可通过不被看见、视听传输技术、他人陪同等特殊方式出庭制度,必要时采取分别庭审或书面质证方式审理家庭暴力案件。未成年人作证的,应当考虑出庭的必要性及其出庭意愿。对英国家事诉讼中脆弱人员出庭制度的参考借鉴,将有利于保障家事诉讼中弱势群体的程序参与利益,为我国“家事诉讼法”的独立立法提供宝贵经验。

England&Wales values the welfare of vulnerable persons in family proceedings.In order to help vulnerable persons such as children,the disabled and victims of domestic violence to participate in family proceedings effectively,England&Wales has established the vulnerable persons system,by which it protects the vulnerable persons from harm and is beneficial to accurate fact-findings and fair trial.In the context of implementing the concepts of“parties attend courts in person”and“humanized trial”in family trials,China can learn the experiences from England&Wales on the basis of the existing judicial practice,and stipulate that,children,victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable persons can attend in court by special ways such as not being seen,video link,supporter,etc.If necessary,the court can let the parties attend separate hearings or cross-examine the evidence in written to hear domestic violence cases.And if a child gives evidence,the court shall consider the necessity of attending in person and the child’s will.The reference will be conducive to protect the interests of vulnerable persons in family proceedings,and provide valuable experience for the independent legislation of Family Procedure Rules in China.