Supreme Court allows child's hearing in return case despite mother's objection to protect child's best interests.

The Supreme Court of Finland allowed the hearing of the 10-year-old child in the custody return proceedings, overriding the mother's objection. The mother argued that the child was too young and that the hearing would cause unnecessary distress, while the father requested the child's input to ensure a child-centered outcome. The court ruled that the child's best interests require their voice to be heard, even at a young age, provided the procedure is adapted to their capacity.