Help in protecting the child's rights to love and care

In September 2023, Ms. Nadiya, who is taking care of her underage granddaughter Nicole, turned to the lawyers of Caritas Kharkiv, a DRC partner, for legal assistance. The child's mother has been living separately for several years, does not take care of her daughter, actually removed herself from her upbringing.

Since Ms. Nadiya actually replaces her granddaughter's mother, there was a need to obtain guardianship status. Every child has the right to a family, love and care, but sometimes this right needs protection.

During the following months, the lawyers of Caritas Kharkiv BF, together with Ms. Nadiya, gathered the necessary evidence and filed a lawsuit to the court to deprive the mother of parental rights, appoint Ms. Nadiya as a guardian, and collect alimony from the mother. In addition, lawyers represented the woman's interests in court and in relations with the children's services.

Consideration of the case lasted almost six months. The court completely satisfied the claims.

Now Mrs. Nadiya will be able to fully enjoy all the rights and social services for the full development of her granddaughter.

"I have already stopped believing that I will choose the rights of a guardian and the opportunity to protect the interests of my granddaughter. Thank you for the legal assistance, I am sincerely impressed that the decision is in my favor," shared Ms. Nadiya.

BF "Caritas Kharkiv" provides free legal aid to the war-affected population of the Kharkiv region in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine (DRC) thanks to support in the framework of civil protection and humanitarian aid of the European Union.