parental child abduction

by Kendra Inman

parental child abduction | help and info

help and info

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organisations

International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU)
81 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1DD
Tel: 020 7911 7047 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Website: www.officialsolicitor.gov.uk/icacu/icacu.htm
The ICACU deals with cases where a child has been abducted and taken to a country that is a signatory of the Hague Convention. The unit can help parents make an application for the return of their child to the UK. The website contains information about child abduction law, the enforcement of contact/access orders, action to take when a child is abducted, and international agreements.

Resolution
PO Box 302
Orpington BR6 8QX
Tel: 01689 820 272
E-mail: info@resolution.org.uk
Website: www.resolution.org.uk
The online portal for the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA), a nationwide association of over 5,000 solicitors specialising in family law. The site has helpful factsheets on many common areas of law, including abductions. Users can also search the site for solicitors and mediators who are members of the SFLA and specialise in child abduction cases.

Reunite
PO Box 7124
Leicester LE1 7XX
Advice Line: 0116 2556 234
Tel: 0116 2555 345
E-mail: reunite@dircon.co.uk
Website: www.reunite.org
Charity dealing specifically with the problem of parental child abduction and international custody disputes. Reunite runs a helpline and publishes information packs. The website explains what to do in the case of child abduction and how to proceed if the child has been taken to another country. You can also send away for a child abduction prevention pack.

Refuge
Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)
Tel: 020 7395 7700 (general enquiries)
E-mail: info@refuge.org.uk
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Provides counselling, support and welfare rights as well as accommodation and refuge to women and children escaping domestic violence and other harmful situations.

websites

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Child Abduction
www.fco.gov.uk/ ..
These pages from the FCO provide advice on what to do and who to contact if your child has been abducted overseas or you fear that this might happen. Can also provide practical help when dealing with authorities overseas.

Child Abduction Resource Center
www.missing-abducted.com
US-based website dedicated to the support of parents of abducted children. Features multilingual resources on parental abduction, international abduction and missing children. Includes FAQs and latest news.

PARENT (Parents Advocating for Return through Education by Networking Together)
www.parentinternational.com
This US-based website features lots of useful information and resources aimed as building awareness and understanding of international child abduction and campaigning for measures to tackle this increasing phenomenon.

reading

	International Parental Child Abduction by Anne-Marie Hutchinson and Henry Setright (Family Law, 2006) Discusses various factors involved when pursuing international child abduction cases, such as costs, legal aid regimes, passport operations and International and European conventions. Get this book
	The Recovery of Internationally Abducted Children: A comprehensive guide by Maureen Dabbagh (McFarland & Company, 1997) This guide is aimed at both professionals and parents and looks at preventing abduction, what to do if an abduction occurs, who to contact, how to organise and co-ordinate the search and where the law stands internationally. Get this book
	They Are My Children Too: A mother's struggle for her sons by Catherine Meyer (Perseus Books Group, 1999) The story of one woman's fight for her children, her suffering and determination, and the inadequacy of current international laws to protect parents and children against child abduction. Get this book
	When Parents Kidnap: The families behind the headlines by Geoffrey Greif and Rebecca Hegar (Free Press, 1992) This text looks at the problem of abduction of children by their parents, describes the experiences of families involved and highlights the families at risk. The authors suggest that changes in custody and divorce laws are needed to solve this growing problem. Get this book

(resources updated March 2006)

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