International Child Abduction: More Awareness Needed of Cross-Border Legal Issues says Senate Report
Ottawa – Today, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights tabled its report on the Hague Abduction Conventions and outlined seven recommendations. The report entitled Alert: Challenges and International Mechanisms to Address Cross-Border Child Abduction calls for a review of current approaches and an examination of ways to generate awareness of the Hague Abduction Convention among parents and other stakeholders, such as police, judges and lawyers. Public information should include details about the provisions of the Hague Abduction Convention, including a list of countries that are signatories, the risk of abduction and associated penalties whenever a passport is issued.
The Committee recommends the establishment of one or more task forces to improve coordination of programs and services for left-behind parents and explore options for greater cooperation in areas such as education, data collection and information sharing on international child abduction cases.
“International child abductions are very difficult situations for both parents and children. For left-behind parents, international child abduction cases invoke a complicated set of legal considerations, in addition to the psychological and emotional issues involved. Our report makes several recommendations that we hope will help to deter parents from abducting their children across international borders, facilitate the return of a child to the country of usual residence and make the process easier for left-behind parents.”
- Senator Mobina S.B. Jaffer, Chair
“Currently, Canada is actively engaged in dialogue with non–Hague countries through various means, including the Malta Process and its Working Party on Mediation, to promote greater mutual understanding and encourage wider ratification of the Hague Abduction Convention. We encourage Canada’s continued active role and support increased Parliamentary diplomacy on these issues.”
- Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Deputy Chair
Quick Facts
- Canada ratified the Hague Abduction Convention on 2 June 1983
- Currently, there are 93 state parties to the Hague Abduction Convention
- The Hague Abduction Convention contains 45 articles, including provisions outlining its objectives, the rules governing the return of a child and access rights, and exceptions to such rules.
Associated links
- Infographic
- The Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
- Canada - Central Authority
- International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
- Preventing International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Parents
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