Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

Child Abduction
The 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to
which the UK is a signatory, aims to ensure that abducted or unlawfully retained
children are returned to where they normally live for custody matters to be resolved
by the local courts. Unfortunately, many countries are not signatories to the
convention and it is far more difficult for parents to regain access if their children are
abducted to these countries. This is why we strongly believe that all countries
should sign and properly implement the convention.
In 2010 we assisted in 312 cases of child abduction to non-signatory countries. In
one case a father contacted us about his young son who was abducted by his
mother from the UK to a country in Africa. We were able to conduct a consular visit
and pass the father information about his son’s wellbeing. We also registered an
interest in the case with the local courts and lobbied the foreign government at
ministerial level. At the end of the year, the father was awaiting the outcome of
custody proceedings in the local courts, and we continued to be on hand to give him
advice and support.
As well as offering assistance on individual cases, we encouraged foreign
governments to sign the Hague Convention and facilitate the return of children to
their homes. In 2010 we funded a workshop in Pakistan to increase understanding
amongst the Pakistani judiciary of the UK–Pakistan Protocol, a bilateral agreement
on child abduction, and in 2011 we are planning two follow-up workshops to
disseminate good practice. Our approach means we support parents of abducted
children in the short term, as well as promoting international procedures that prevent
abductions and resolve cases quickly.
The Government intends to ratify the 1996 Hague Convention on Parental
Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children in 2011, which will
enhance the measures of the 1980 convention. However more needs to be
achieved with countries that are not party to the convention. Making greater use of
the UK’s international influence, for example through ministerial intervention on
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