Protection of Family Rights: National and International Legal Aspects in the Context of Digital Transformation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34625/issn.2183-2705(38)2025.ic-25

Keywords:

marriage and other family unions, foreign element, civil proceedings, simplified proceedings, ECHR practice, protection and defence of athletes’ rights

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the effectiveness of digital and procedural mechanisms for the protection of family rights in four countries (Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Italy), taking into account the influence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) practice and the provisions of private international law. It was found that a full-fledged online marriage registration functions only in Ukraine through the Diia platform, which has legal force, while in Germany, Poland, and Italy digital services are limited to the preliminary submission of applications without legal completion of the procedure. In the field of protection of family rights, the average time for considering cases in simplified proceedings is from 60 to 120 days, and the scope of judicial control varies significantly: from minimal in Ukraine to strict in Germany. The comparative analysis showed that mediation is mandatory in family disputes in Germany and Italy, partially regulated in Poland and voluntary in Ukraine, which affects the speed and quality of reaching an agreement between the parties. The practical significance is determined by the development of proposals for harmonizing approaches to digital interaction, procedural simplification and taking into account the specifics of mobile categories of persons in national legislation.

References

AIDONOJIE, Paul A., et al. Bioenergy revamping and complimenting the global environmental legal framework on the reduction of waste materials: A facile review. Heliyon, 2023, vol. 9, no. 1, e14067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12860

ANDRAŠKO, Jozef, MESARČÍK, Matúš and HAMUĽÁK, Ondrej. The regulatory intersections between artificial intelligence, data protection and cyber security: Challenges and opportunities for the EU legal framework. AI & Society, 2021, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 623–636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-020-01125-5

BAI, Chunguang, QUAYSON, Matthew. and SARKIS, Joseph. COVID-19 pandemic digitization lessons for sustainable development of micro- and small-enterprises. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2021, vol. 27, pp. 1989–2001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2021.04.035

BENDER, Michelle, BUSTAMANTE, Rachel and LEONARD, Kelsey. Living in relationship with the Ocean to transform governance in the UN Ocean Decade. PLOS Biology, 2022, vol. 20, no. 10, e3001828. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001828

BÜRGERLICHES GESETZBUCH. Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung vom 2. Januar 2002 (BGBl. I S. 42), zuletzt geändert durch Art. 4 G v. 7. 4. 2020 (BGBl. I S. …). Gesetze im Internet. 2020. Avaialble from http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/

CHUECA VERGARA, Cristina and FERRUZ AGUDO, Luis. Fintech and sustainability: Do they affect each other? Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, no. 13, 7012. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137012

CODICE CIVILE. Regio Decreto 16 marzo 1942, n. 262. Codice Civile aggiornato al 2020. Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana. 2020. Available from https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:regio.decreto:1942-03-16;262!vig=2020

COUNCIL OF EUROPE. 1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems. 2020. Available from https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=09000016809E1154

COUNCIL OF EUROPE. Convention on Contact Concerning Children (ETS No. 192), Articles 4–7. Council of Europe Treaty Series. 2003. Available from https://rm.coe.int/convention-on-contact-concerning-children/1680a40f71

EK V. LATVIA. no. 25564/18, Eur. Ct. H.R. 2022. Available from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-224091

ENGLER, Cecilia, VANDERZWAAG, David L. and SECK, Sara L. Oceans and climate change adaptation: Tracking international law and policy developments and challenges. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2025, vol. 12, 1577490. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1577490

EUROPEAN COMMISSION. Communication on a Digital Decade for children and youth: The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) (COM/2022/212 final). Publications Office of the European Union. 2022. https://commission.europa.eu/document/COM(2022)212_en

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Andersen v. Poland (Application No. 53662/20). Dispute concerning transnational parenthood and access to family life, in particular the involvement of a foreign father, violation of Articles 6 and 8. HUDOC, Strada Lex. 2025. https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-218104%22]}

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Formela and Others v. Poland (Application No. 203734). Case concerning refusal to recognise a marriage/civil partnership registered abroad, resulting in a violation of Article 8. HUDOC, FIDH. 2024. https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-203734%22]}

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. H.W. v. France (Application No. 002 14430). The court ruled that refusal to engage in sexual intimacy cannot be interpreted as a violation of marital obligations; consent to marriage does not imply automatic consent to sex. The decision violates the right to private and family life (Article 8). HUDOC, Reuters, Jurist. 2025. https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22002-14430%22]}

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Przybyszewska and Others v. Poland (Application No. 11454/17). It has been established that the absence of a legal position on the registration of same-sex unions violates the right to family life (Article 8). HUDOC, Strasbourg Observers. 2023. Available from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-229391%22]}

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Strand Lobben and Others v. Norway (Application No. 37283/13). Decisions regarding interference in family life and guardianship procedures are recognised as violations of Article 8. HUDOC. 2020. Avaialble from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-195909%22]}

FAMILY CODE OF UKRAINE CODE OF UKRAINE. No. 2947 III (effective as of 5 October 2023). 2023. Available from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/2947-14

FARAH Bassam, et al. Corporate governance in the Middle East and North Africa: A systematic review of current trends and opportunities for future research. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 2021, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 630–660. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12377

FILIPOVIĆ, Sanja, LIOR, Noam and RADOVANOVIĆ, Mirjana. The green deal  Just transition and sustainable development goals nexus. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2022, vol. 168, 112759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112759

FRATI, Paola, et al. Bioethical issues and legal frameworks of surrogacy: A global perspective about the right to health and dignity. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2021, vol. 258, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.12.020

HAMEED, Khizar, NAHA, Ranesh and HAMEED, Faisal. Digital transformation for sustainable health and well-being: A review and future research directions. Discover Sustainability, 2024, vol. 5, no. 1, 104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00273-8

HERI, Corina. Climate change before the European Court of Human Rights: Capturing risk, ill-treatment and vulnerability. European Journal of International Law, 2022, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 925–951. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chac047

HOKMABADI, Hamed, REZVANI, Seyed M. and de MATOS, Celso A. Business resilience for small and medium enterprises and startups by digital transformation and the role of marketing capabilities: A systematic review. Systems, 2024, vol. 12, no. 6, 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12060220

HUDOC, EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. HUDOC database. n.d. Available from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/

JÆGER, Birgit. Digital citizenship: A review of the academic literature. Der Moderne Staat: Zeitschrift für Public Policy, Recht und Management, 221, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 24–42. https://doi.org/10.3224/dms.v14i1.09

KEMPENEER, Shirley and HEYLEN, Frederik. Virtual state, where are you? A literature review, framework and agenda for failed digital transformation. Big Data & Society, 2023, vol. 10, no. 1, 20539517231160528. https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517231160528

KHOO, Catheryn et al. Opportunities and challenges of digital competencies for women tourism entrepreneurs in Latin America: A gendered perspective. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2024, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 519–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2189622

KICKBUSCH, Ilona, et al. The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2030: Growing up in a digital world. The Lancet, 2021, vol. 398, no. 10312, pp. 1727–1776. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01824-9

KODEKS RODZINNY I OPIEKUŃCZY. Ustawa z dnia 25 lutego 1964 r. – Kodeks rodzinny i opiekuńczy. Tekst jednolity: Dz.U. 2023 poz. 2809 (z późn. zm.). 2023. Available from https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU19640090059/U/D19640059Lj.pdf

KRAUS, Sascha, et al. Digital transformation: An overview of the current state of the art of research. SAGE Open, vol. 11, no. 3, 21582440211047576. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211047576

LACY-NICHOLS, Jennifer, et al. The public health playbook: Ideas for challenging the corporate playbook. The Lancet Global Health, 2022, vol. 10, no. 7, pp. e1067–e1072. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00185-1

LAW OF UKRAINE ‘ON MEDIATION’. Information from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 2021. Available from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1304-20

LAW OF UKRAINE ‘ON PHYSICAL CULTURE AND SPORT’. Law of Ukraine dated 24 December 1993 No. 3808 XII (as amended on 3 September 2023). Information from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 2023. Available from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3808-12

MADZÍK, Peter, et al. Digital transformation in tourism: Bibliometric literature review based on machine learning approach. European Journal of Innovation Management, 2023, vol. 26, no. 7, pp. 177–205. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-09-2022-0531

MELO, Isotilia C., et al. Sustainable digital transformation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs): A review on performance. Heliyon, 2023, vol. 9, no. 3, e14115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13908

MOHAMMAD AMINI, Mohammad, et al. Artificial intelligence ethics and challenges in healthcare applications: A comprehensive review in the context of the European GDPR mandate. Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction, 2023, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 1023–1035. https://doi.org/10.3390/make5030053

OKOLO, Chinasa, ARULEBA, Kehinde and OBAIDO, George. Responsible AI in Africa: Challenges and opportunities. In L. C. Juma (Ed.), Artificial intelligence and human rights in Africa: Challenges and opportunities. Cham: Springer, 2023, pp. 35-64. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08215-3

PAGALLO, Ugo, et al. The underuse of AI in the health sector: Opportunity costs, success stories, risks and recommendations. Health and Technology, 2024, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12553-023-00806-7

RODRIGUES, Daniela L. G. Challenges and opportunities in the Brazilian Unified Health System: Pathways to sustainability and equity. Public Health, 2025, vol. 247, 105844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105844

SÁTYRO, Natalia, CUNHA, Eleonora S. M. and ANDRADE, Gabriel P. P. Family policies in Brazil: Continuity and change in the recent democratic era. Social Policy & Administration, 2025, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.13151

SEOW, Richard Y. C. Determinants of environmental, social, and governance disclosure: A systematic literature review. Business Strategy and the Environment, 2024, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 2314–2330. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3604

STRAND LOBBEN AND OTHERS V. NORWAY, NO. 37283/13, EUR. CT. H.R. 2020. Available from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-195909

VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE. Civil procedure code of Ukraine: With amendments and additions as of 19 June 2024 (Articles 274–277). No. 1618-IV. Information from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 2004. Available from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/1618-15

VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 345 ‘On the implementation of a pilot project for the state registration of marriages in electronic form’. Database ‘Legislation of Ukraine’. 2024. Available from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/345-2024-%D0%BF

WAN, Zhiyu, et al. Sociotechnical safeguards for genomic data privacy. Nature Reviews Genetics, 2022, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 429–445. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-022-00455-y

WANG, Ziyu, HÄMÄLÄINEN, Juha, H. and ZHAO, Fang, Z. Divorce in a cultural context: Marriage policy transformations in the Chinese Mainland. Family Transitions, 2025, pp. 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/28375300.2025.2526303

Wong, Brian L. H., et al. The dawn of digital public health in Europe: Implications for public health policy and practice. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 2022, vol. 14, 100314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100316

YOCHEVA AND GANEVA V. BULGARIA. No. 18592/15 & 43863/15, Eur. Ct. H.R 2021. Available from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-209866

ZAHRAH, Fatimatuz and DWIPUTRA, Rahyudi. Digital citizens: Efforts to accelerate digital transformation. Jurnal Studi Kebijakan Publik, 2023, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.21787/jskp.2.2023.1-11

Downloads

Published

2025-11-05

How to Cite

RADCHENKO, L., VASYLIEVA-SHALAMOVA, Z., HRABOVSKA, O., ZALIZKO, O., & ZAKHAROVA, O. (2025). Protection of Family Rights: National and International Legal Aspects in the Context of Digital Transformation. Revista Jurídica Portucalense , 1(38), 489–509. https://doi.org/10.34625/issn.2183-2705(38)2025.ic-25