Family Law in the Era of Migration: Legal Protection for Transnational Families Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

The phenomenon of global migration has created complex challenges in ensuring legal protection for transnational families, particularly with regard to the legal status of marriage, child custody, and access to social services across jurisdictions. The lack of harmony among national legal systems generates legal uncertainty and the potential for discrimination against migrant families, which is contrary to the principles of inclusion and equality embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aims to critically examine how international family law responds to the protection needs of transnational families in the context of migration, and to evaluate the extent to which existing regulations align with global commitments to reducing inequality. The distinctiveness of this study lies in its interdisciplinary approach, which combines legal analysis, migration policy, and moral dimensions within the SDG framework. The research employs a qualitative approach with a systematic literature review. The stages of the study include the identification of primary and secondary sources such as international conventions, United Nations documents, legal journals, and reports from human rights institutions; the selection of materials based on their relevance to the issue of transnational families and the principle of non-discrimination; and content analysis using thematic coding techniques. Validation was carried out through peer review and triangulation with case studies from various jurisdictions. The findings show that although relevant international legal frameworks exist, their implementation remains partial and uneven. Several countries have not yet fully adopted the principle of non-discrimination in their family law systems. This study concludes that legal harmonization and stronger interstate cooperation are required to ensure fair, inclusive, and sustainable legal protection for transnational families, in line with the commitments of the SDGs.