The I CARE Foundation acknowledges that the Christmas season brings a dramatic increase in the number of international parental child abduction cases, particularly during the week following the holiday. In saying that, the I CARE Foundation strongly recommends that parents who have a child traveling abroad this holiday season, either with consent or under the direction of a court order, consider utilizing the Hague-oriented I CARE Foundation International Travel Child Consent Form. The travel consent form was created to prevent international child abduction due to the wrongful retention of a child in a foreign country by one of their parents, which actually accounts for approximately 70% of all international child abduction cases according to an extensive research study conducted by the I CARE Foundation this past summer.
Peter Thomas Senese, Executive Director of the I CARE Foundation, in regards to the International Travel Consent Form, stated,
“To the best of our knowledge, since the creation of the I CARE Foundation’s International Travel Child Consent Form, all children traveling abroad from Hague Convention signatory countries who were expected to return to their country of original jurisdiction have come home. There have actually been several cases where one parent initially refused to sign the International Travel Child Consent Form, and in each of those cases, the overseeing judge would not permit travel. At that point additional measures were put into place in order to prevent a future parental abduction.
It is critical for all parents who are allowing a child to travel abroad to understand is that there are numerous traps and schemes that a would-be abductor will use in order to legally keep a child abroad. Most of these schemes revolve around Articles 12 and 13 of the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Defending against these potential strategies is critical. It is the thrust of the I CARE Foundation’s International Travel Child Consent Form. And with tens of thousands of children around the world targeted for international parental abduction each year, our travel consent form may be the most effective tool that could help prevent abduction or help return a child to their country of original jurisdiction under the spirit of Article 2 of the Hague Convention.”
The international travel consent form has been utilized successfully by the global legal community, and as well supported by key stakeholders in abduction prevention including Hague Permanent Bureau Secretary General Dr. Christophe Bernasconi, who stated,
“I have had the possibility to look at the travel form and must say that I am impressed: this is the most comprehensive document of its kind that I have seen so far and there is little doubt in my mind that this is a most valuable and important effort to prevent child abduction. I applaud your efforts and wish to congratulate you and your team . . . It is really impressive to see how quickly your international travel child consent form has started to yield practical results and how well you monitor its operation – this really is remarkable.”
For families that are considered to be at a high-risk for international parental child abduction, you need to be aware of how to protect your child from this type of kidnapping. Families would fit in this category if they happen to be in the midst of a high-conflict divorce or separation where there are child custody disputes, particularly when we are looking at a cross-cultural relationship. Also, those families where one parent has strong ties to another country and may have limited assets where they are currently living with the child and the child’s other parent. These families need to be extra vigilant this holiday season when it comes to protecting your child, but the reality is, all parents need to be aware of international parental child abduction, the risks and warning signs and as well, what to do if an abduction was imminent or occurring.
Many times we see parents that are involved in international child custody disputes thinking that their child is best protected from abduction when there is a court order in place for the child to return if the other parent is granted travel. The truth is that without an international travel document, such as the International Travel Child Consent Form, which has immediate ramifications attached to it, the parent and child targeted for abduction are at serious risk. But the reality is, NO parent should allow their child to travel internationally without the other parent signing this ground-breaking abduction prevention tool. If a parent is unwilling to sign this document, it should be considered a serious warning sign that an abduction could be in the works… do NOT ignore this!
Due to the incredible success of the International Travel Child Consent Form at protecting children from abduction, and in an effort to make it even more accessible, the document has been translated into 20 different languages from around the world and there will be more translations coming early in 2015. Please visit the official I CARE Foundation website where you can see the translations that are currently available. If you should have any questions regarding the form please contact the I CARE Foundation at legal@theicarefoundation.org
Looking at the fact that many international child abductions occur during what was supposed to be a family vacation, a typical scheme for an abducting parent could go something like this: The would-be-abducting parent tells his/her partner that they would like to plan a trip to a foreign country… perhaps their country of origin… maybe to visit a sibling or parents over the holiday season. Once the family arrives in the foreign country, the abducting parent might file false allegations of abuse and neglect against the other parent and then notify the other parent that they and the child will not be returning back to the country of original jurisdiction. At this point, the targeted parent, who didn’t suspect any of this, is generally forced to return back home without their child where they then need to seek legal assistance.
Abduction prevention tools such as using the I CARE Foundation’s International Travel Child Consent Form and being aware of the risks and warning signs of international parental child abduction aren’t the only things available to parents. There are two critical programs available to U.S. parent citizens that may aid in the prevention of their U.S. child citizen from being internationally abducted.
Prevent Departure Program (PDP)
In the past, American parents at risk of having a child illegally removed from the United States had to deal with the reality that it was extremely difficult to stop an international child abduction if the other parent possessed a right of American citizenship (sole or dual citizenship). Part of the problem is that the United States has limited exit controls and government published information regarding programs that could be utilized to stop international parental child abduction such as the Prevent Departure Program require a suspected international parental child abductor to not have a right of American Citizenship, among a host of other requirements.
Today, parents who are at risk of having a child internationally abducted by a parent who possesses citizenship to the United States or who has dual citizenship may be able to protect their children from abduction.
If you should happen to be an at-risk parent that believes your child’s other parent is planning or is in the process of an international parental abduction, please contact the United States Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues Abduction Prevention Bureau to discuss potential measures that may be available to you to ensure the individual parent suspected of an international child abduction threat does not illegally depart the United States and remove your child in violation of a court order or in breach of your right of custody.
To contact the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues Prevention Bureau please contact:
The United States Department of State
Office Of Children’s Issues
Abduction Prevention Bureau
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Email: prevention@state.gov
Phone: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP)
One of the Department of State’s most important tools for preventing international parental child abduction. Parents are able to register their U.S. citizen children under the age of 18 in the Passport Lookout System. If at some point a passport application is submitted for a child that is registered in the CPIAP, the Department of State contacts and alerts the parent(s). This system provides the parent(s) with advance warning of possible plans for international travel with the child.
The Charleston Passport Center is responsible for administering the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program:
U.S. Department of State
Passport Services, Charleston Passport Center
Attn: Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program
1269 Holland Street, Building D
Charleston, SC 29405
E-mail: ChildrensPassports@state.gov
Phone: 1-888-407-4747
Fax: 843-746-1827
Chasing The Cyclone: A Book Of Miracles
Peter Thomas Senese is not only the Executive Director of the I CARE Foundation, but also the best-selling author of the critically-acclaimed novel ‘Chasing The Cyclone,’ a story about a father searching for his internationally abducted son… a story that was deeply inspired by his own personal experiences. Being hailed as a call-to-arms against international child abduction and as well a blue-print on how to either prevent a child from being abducted, or how to reunite with your child, Chasing The Cyclone has in fact enabled something remarkable: it has helped reunite children with their parents, as Peter Thomas Senese has so generously donated 100% of his author royalties to the I CARE Foundation.
To quote Peter directly, “The I CARE Foundation is actively trying to reunite other children who have been internationally abducted with their families. I think my readers have a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that when they purchase one of my novels, they are making a measurable difference in the life of a defenseless child – and that is pretty cool.”
To learn more about international parental child abduction, or to DOWNLOAD a free copy of the International Travel Child Consent Form, which is currently available in 20 different languages, please visit the I CARE Foundation website.
If you suspect an international parental child abduction is imminent or in progress, CLICK HERE.
To order your copy of Chasing The Cyclone please CLICK HERE.
All of us at the I CARE Foundation would like to wish you the best of the holiday season!