International Child Abduction

Office of Children's Issues "The Office of Children's Issues formulates, develops, and coordinates policies and programs and provides direction to foreign service posts on international parental child abduction. It fulfills U.S. treaty obligations relating to the abduction of children". This is the office within the U.S. Department of State that acts as the Central Authority. This site will allow you to better understand the role of Children's Issues as it relates to international child abduction.

THE HAGUE TREATY

What and whom you will need to know to apply to have your children returned under the Hague Treaty.

"The Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is a multilateral treaty which seeks to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international boundaries by providing a procedure to bring about their prompt return".

Application for Assistance Under the Hague Convention

Acquiescence and Consent: By. Jeremy D. Morley. It is a defense to a claim of wrongful removal or retention of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction that the petitioner had consented to or subsequently acquiesced in the removal or retention.

Bill Hilton's Web Site Dealing with the Hague Convention: Bill Hilton is an attorney from California who specializes in cases dealing with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This is by far the largest and best site we have found that deals with the Hague Treaty. There are papers, case laws, reports and much more. This is a great site for attorneys.

Brussels II (Article)
Brussels II

Central Authorities

Child Abduction Home Page of the Hague Conference on Private International law This is a direct link to the section of the Hague Conference of Private International Law that deals with child abduction. There is a good section of links to related websites in different countries. You can also download a copy of the "full status" of the Convention on child abduction. You may also get a copy of the Convention as well as a copy of the Perez-Vera report, which explains the convention in depth. (The Treaty and Perez-Vera report are also available below).

The Common Law Conference on International Custody: Judges representing six delegations...proposed the following "Best Practices" to improve operation of the Hague Convention.

Conclusions and Recommendations: of the fourth meeting of the Special Commission TO REVIEW THE OPERATION OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION OF 25 OCTOBER 1980 ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION: you can access information on all four Special Commissions, October 1989, January 1993, March 1997 and March 2001.

Countries who give legal assistance to left behind parent (Coming Soon)

Countries who have signed the Hague Treaty: United States Department listing

The Epidemic of Parental Child-Snatching: An Overview: Attempts to Prevent Parental Child Abduction, Applicable United States laws, and the Hague Convention, By Hon. William Rigler. "This article analyzes several facets of the tragedy of child-snatching: ways to curb it, applicable legislation, and judicial responses."

Executive Summary: Common law Judicial Conference on International Child Custody: A Report on the Conference. The delegations "exchanged information and opinions about how courts are, and should be, handling international abduction cases, and in particular cases involving the Child Abduction Convention" (Hague).

From the Law Library of Congress to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Operation of the Hague Convention in Other Countries. Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, applicable Law and International Framework within Certain Convention Countries. A report on the operation of the Hague Convention in other countries for the Committee On foreign Relations, United States Senate, By the Law Library of Congress for the 106th Congress, Second session, October 2000.

Good Practice In Handling Hague Abduction Convention Return Applications: We are pleased to present our recently published guide to good practice under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ("the Convention"). The guide discusses good practice in all aspects of implementation and operation of the Convention.

English | German | Spanish | French

Guide to Good Practice: Child Abduction Convention-Part I Central Authority Practice- 2003

Guide to Good Practice: Child Abduction Convention-Part II Implementing Measures-2003

Habitual Residence: By. Jeremy D. Morley. Every case that is brought pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction requires a determination of the habitual residence of the child in question. The concept of habitual residence is key to the operation of all aspects of the Convention -- and yet it is not a term that is defined in the Convention itself.

Hague Conference on Private International law "The Hague Conference of Private International Law is an intergovernmental organization that works for the progressive unification of the rules of private international law. The principal method used to achieve this purpose consists in the negotiation and drafting of multilateral treaties (conventions) in the different fields of private international law." (Included is the "status and protection of children and relations between spouses")

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (In English) You can download a copy of the Hague Treaty in English, German or French (a copy of the treaty in Spanish can be found on the Child Abduction Home Page above).

How Judges Can Support the Operation of the Child Abduction Convention: By the Rt Hon Lord Justice Thorpe, given at the Common Law Judicial Conference, September 17-21, 2000, Washington, D.C.

International Child Abduction Data Base (INCADAT): (INCADAT) This site was established by the "Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International law with the object of making accessible many of the leading judicial decisions made by national courts around the world in respect of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This is a great site for Judges, lawyers, Central Authorities, researchers and the media. Also a great site for Non-profits and NGO's that work in the field of missing and abducted children.

International Child Abduction Remedies Act: (ICARA) Public Law 100-300: This is the law that implements the Hague Treaty into U.S. law. The Treaty and ICARA are meant to be used together, one does not supercede the other.

International Child Custody: A Common Law Judicial Conference, September 18-21, 2000. Issues surrounding a safe return of the child. By the Delegation from the Commonwealth of Australia.

Law Library of Congress REPORT FOR CONGRESS on the Hague Countries. Click on any country to read the chapter relating to that country.

THE LIMITATIONS ON ARTICLE 13(b) By William M. Hilton. (1997) "Despite the general trend both in the United States and in the other nations that have become "contracting States" to the Convention, there are still instances when efforts will be made to thwart the laudable goal of the prompt return of the child to his or her habitual residence". This blocking is usually attempted by resorting to Art. 13(b) of The Convention".

National Report of the United States of America For the Common Law Judicial Conference on International Child Custody, Washington, D.C. September 17-21, 2000. Organization of the Courts of the United States of America

Office of Children’s Issues

Perez Report Explanatory Report drawn up by Ms. E Perez Vera.

Report and Conclusions of the Special Commission Concerning the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction- 27 September – 1 October 2002

Report for Congress June 2004, Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, An Analasys of the Applicable Law and Institutional Framework of 51 Jurisdictions and the European Law.

Text of the Hague Convention: On the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Translations of the Child Abduction Convention - Copy in German


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