Cases of international child abduction occur regularly across Australia and the rest of the world. An estimated 2–3 children are taken illegally by a parent out of Australia each week. When a child is abducted across international borders, it creates great emotional trauma and confusion for all parties involved and it is difficult to make any decisions under these circumstances. The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department considers international child abduction to be an important and serious matter.
Parents may take their child away for a whole range of reasons. Child abduction usually occurs under the most emotional and stressful circumstances. Ultimately, the most important thing is the welfare of the child. If you are concerned that your child may be removed from Australia you can take steps to prevent wrongful removal in the future by contacting DA Family Lawyers.
About the Hague Convention
Australia is a party to the Hague Convention. The purpose of the Convention is to discourage international parental child abduction and to ensure that children who are abducted or wrongfully retained are returned promptly to their country of habitual residence. The usual issues relevant to a parenting dispute between parents are not relevant in Convention applications and court hearings.
The Convention allows you to seek the return of a child to Australia if the child has been taken from Australia to another Convention country without your agreement. The Convention also applies if the child was taken temporarily to a Convention country with your consent, for example, to visit relatives or for a contact visit, but has been retained in that country without your agreement (wrongfully retained). The Convention also allows parents to seek assistance in spending time with their children who live with another parent in a Convention country overseas.
The Convention only applies between countries that are parties to the Convention. These are known as Convention Countries. Australia is a signatory to the convention, along with many countries around the world.
Contact DA Family Lawyers Online for more information on Hague Convention Proceedings.
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