DYK: An international Parental Child Abduction (PCA) could be stopped in progress?

In its most recent incidence study of missing children, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that an estimated 200,000 to 230,000 children are abducted by a family member each year.

Based on the Department of State’s most recent annual report on international Parental Child Abductions, we can estimate that for every 1,000 children who are abducted by a parent, two will be taken across international borders.

The moments following the threatened abduction of a child by his/her parent, or once an abduction actually occurs, are both paralyzing and critical for a protecting parent. In either scenario, most have never considered that an abduction may occur, or what steps are available for prevention or recovery.

Once a child is abducted by his/her parent abroad, the U.S. loses its jurisdiction to facilitate the legal return of the child to his/her home. All hope is not lost, however. Various U.S. agencies, such as the Department of State, have offices and programs that may prevent an international Parental Child Abduction from occurring, or assist a seeking parent with access to or the return of the child following a kidnapping event.

We are joined today by Scott Renner, Director of the Office of Children’s Issues, Bureau of Consular Affairs, at the U.S. Department of State, to help us further understand the prevention programs and services that his office provides to families when a Parental Child Abduction overseas is either threatened or actually occurs.

*Recorded on February 15, 2019

Links in the video:

Customs & Border Protection - https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-child-abduction-prevention-and-return-act

U.S. Department of State, Office of Children's Issues - https://travel.state.gov/abductions

Return US Home, Inc. - www.returnushome.org/preventabduction