The fourth International Conference on Shared Parenting will be held in Strasbourg, France on Nov 22-23, 2018 at Palais de l’Europe. The theme of this conference is: Shared Parenting, Social Justice and Children´s Rights. The program of the conference offers the opportunity to hear leading international experts including:

• Regina Jensdottir, Head of the Children´s Rights Division of the Council of Europe
• Jean Zermatten, President and Member of UN committee for Children’s rights (2005-2013), University of Geneva – Switzerland
• Edward Kruk, Associate Professor of Social Work, ICSP/CIRA President, University of British Columbia – Canada
• José Manuel de Torres Perea, Professor of Civil Law, University of Málaga – Spain
• Marie-France Carlier, Judge at Namur Family Court (division of the Namur and Dinant Family Court) – Belgium
• Josiane Bigot, President of the Federation of Child Protection Associations (FAPE), Former judge at the Court of Cassation of Colmar – France
• Blaise Pierrehumbert, PhD, former Privat-Docent in psychology, University of Lausanne - Switzerland
• Michael Lamb, Professor of Psychology, University of Cambridge – United Kingdom
• Livia Olah, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Dept. of Sociology, Stockholm University – Sweden
• Christine Simon, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – USA
• Derrick Gordon, Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology Section), Ph.D., Yale University School of Medicine – USA
• Gerardo Meil, Professor in Sociology, University Autónoma of Madrid – Spain
• Malin Bergström, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University – Sweden
• Lluis Flaquer, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University Autònoma de Barcelona – Spain
• Adeline Gouttenoire, Professor of Law, University of Bordeaux – France
• Hildegund Sünderhauf, Professor for family law and youth welfare law, Lutheran University of applied sciences, Nuremberg – Germany
• William Fabricius, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University – USA

The conference intends to report how, within judicial systems and social work practices, both parents are recognized as vital in their children’s lives, even after separation and divorce. It will explore how shared parenting seems a means for keeping with the principles and articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Thus, a focus of the conference is to stress how shared parenting, viewed as in the best interests of children of separated parents, is a crucial issue for practitioners and policymakers around the globe, regarding the alignment of national law and practices with the articles of the UN CRC.

The conference is structured along four main questions. First, what are the existing legal systems and the challenges regarding the legal presumption of shared parenting as a children’s right, in different countries? Second, what are the current trends and research outcomes regarding social attitudes and knowledge about shared parenting? Third, to what extent could shared parenting, gender equality and work-life balance be combined to improve health and wellbeing of children whose parents are separated? Fourth, how should national laws and international regulations be adapted for considering these social evolutions?

International specialists in the field of shared parenting – representing both the academic sciences, and the legal and family professions – has been invited to present their recent research results and professional practices at this interdisciplinary conference.

The scientific committee, chaired by Pr. Michel Grangeat and Dr. Chantal Clot-Grangeat, selected papers from seventeen countries including Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Portugal, Canada, Brazil, Kenya and Iran. To ensure the quality of the presentations and to facilitate the discussions, two workshops and poster sessions will offer the opportunity for exchanging about new research outcomes, and helpful professional or collective practices.