Developments in descent law: where is it going and where is it supposed to go?

On Thursday 27 October 2022, Sheniel Cameron and Laureen Hu organised the webinar 'Developments in descent law: where is it going and where should it go?' The webinar was organised with support from Utrecht University's UCERF  and the Anton de Kom University of Surinam.

The webinar examined new challenges to Dutch and Surinamese parentage law. Sheniel Cameron talked about her PhD research on the role of the child's best interests in Surinamese parentage law. Heidi Zonneveld-de Kwant, senior court lawyer in the Family & Youth section of the North Holland District Court and chair of the national expert group on parentage and adoption, spoke about the questions that are presented to the courts that have not yet been resolved by the legislature, and the judges' law that has emerged as a result. Laureen Hu shared some preliminary findings from her doctoral research on the fundamental reconsideration of Dutch parentage law. The webinar was a success, with 72 participants from both countries and interesting discussions regarding the questions on parenthood and parentage that societal changes raise.