What
you are about to read is the harsh reality that can happen among families during
the Christmas holiday season. It's a story that is just too common!
Picture
this scenario: An individual travels abroad and ends up meeting someone during
their travels. The two enter into a relationship that results in a child being
born. After a period of time they start to experience some problems in their
relationship and they separate which eventually leads to a divorce. When this
occurs, the non-national decides they want to take the child of the relationship
and permanently return to their country of origin. As they know that the other
parent would object to this, the parent that wants to leave creates an elaborate
scheme to illegally remove the child from the country, outside of a court order
and without permission from the other parent.
Taking
this example a little bit further, and one of the biggest concerns over the
Christmas holiday season, is that a parent that is planning an abduction may
trick the other parent in traveling abroad. Often, the reason of travel is
disguised as family travel to visit relatives abroad, but the reality is, the
parent has no intent of ever returning home with the child. Once the family
arrives in the other country, the would-be abducting parent may file false
claims of abuse or neglect against the other parent and then notifies the
targeted parent that they will not be returning to the country of original
jurisdiction and neither will the child.
Parents
that are involved in child custody disputes, separation or
divorce must be proactive in protecting their children. Often,
parents that are involved in international child custody disputes and who may
be targeted for abduction think that their child is best protected from
abduction when there is a court agreement in place for the child to return if
the other parent is granted travel. For those parents that are
allowing or are required to allow a child to travel to a foreign country need to
strongly consider having the other parent sign the International Travel Child
Consent Form. Should that parent not be willing to, this is a very
serious warning sign that they may be planning an
abduction. The truth is that unless there is an International Travel Child
Consent Form that has immediate ramifications attached to it, the parent and
child targeted for abduction are at serious risk.
Now,
you might wonder why someone would go to such lengths to abduct their child.
Well, the majority of abducting parents use the child as a tool to cause the
other parent pain and suffering by depriving the latter of the love and
connection to their own child. Nearly every published study on this subject has
concluded that an abducting parent has significant, and typically, long-term
psychological problems and may in fact be a danger to their child.
As
far as the abducted child goes, the reality is that children of abduction,
regardless if they are taken by a stranger or a parent, are emotionally,
spiritually, and often severely physically abused. And sadly, too many children
never come home: they can't. They are gone forever.
A report
from the Department of Justice states that children who are kidnapped by a
parent not only face severe physical abuse but are also put at an extreme risk
of being murdered.
In
fact, Dr.
Phillip Resnick, the Director of Forensic Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland stated in an article that was published by
the Denver Post a few years ago about parental child
killing, “Historically, one out of 33 homicides is a parent killing a child
younger than 18.” Dr. Resnick, who conducted a study on filicide in 2005
states “Filicide, the deliberate act of a parent killing his or her own
child, is the third-leading cause of death in American children ages 5 to
14.”
According
to the Denver Post reports, “Researchers estimate 250 to 300 children
are murdered by their parents each year in the U.S. Now, filicide occurs
everywhere... it is not a phenomenon isolated within American borders. Simply
put, parents do kill children! And we can’t put our head in the sand and think
this does not exist.
So
here is the question. What can you do to stop this nightmare from ever
happening to you or to anyone you know? There are a number of things that you
can do.
1.
ALL parents need to be aware of the WARNING
SIGNS of international parental child abduction, but you should be
most diligent if you are a parent in a high-conflict relationship, especially if
your partner has ties abroad. These are parents that would be considered at the
highest risk. If you are in such a relationship, you need to think carefully
and be very aware of any travel plans... and know the risks involved for your
child in relation to international travel.
2.
Use the I
CARE Foundation's International Travel Child Consent Form when your child is
travelling with the other parent. The Travel Consent Form was created to prevent
international child abduction by focusing on the wrongful detention of a child
while traveling abroad, and with an estimated 85% of all international parental
abductions dealing with wrongful detention, it is geared at potentially stopping
the majority of these parental kidnappings.
3.
The Children's
Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is 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
Passport Services, Charleston Passport Center
Attn: Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
1269 Holland Street, Building D
Charleston, SC 29405
E-mail: ChildrensPassports@state.govPhone:
1-888-407-4747
Fax: 843-746-1827
Fax: 843-746-1827
4. The
Prevent Departure Program (PDP) is another critical tool used in the fight
to protect children from international abduction. 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 of America 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.
Individuals
that are seeking the assistance of the Department of State and the
implementation of the Prevent Departure Program should make sure that they have
the following information ready to submit to the Office of Children's
Issues:
1.
Full name, date, place of birth of Potential taking parent.
2.
Full name, date, place of birth of Potential left behind parent (and PLBP’s
contact info, including a surface address).
3.
Passport number and issuing country (if available, and not U.S.) for both
parents.
4.
Full name of child.
5.
Date, place of birth of child.
6.
U.S. passport number of child.
7.
Passport number and issuing country of any dual national passport of child (if
available).
8.
Copy of court order with travel restrictions.
9.
Full contact details, including a 24/7 phone and email (to email court
documents, we do not have after hours fax access), for law enforcement
contact.
10.
Details of potential travel plans.
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
Phone: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Email: prevention@state.gov
Office Of Children's Issues
Abduction Prevention Bureau
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Phone: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Email: prevention@state.gov
To contact the I CARE Foundation concerning
abduction matters please email us at legal@stopchildabduction.org.
U.S. Reported Cases Of Parental Abduction Decline For Two Consecutive Years:
In
2011, the forecasted increase for the abduction growth rate in the United States
was 25%. Increases in reported abduction rates has been the story for nearly 30
years, ever since America became a signatory of the Hague Convention. Now, the
reality of what happened in 2011 is pretty remarkable! There was an actual
decline of 15% in the reported cases or abductions originating from the U.S.
But not only did this happen in 2011, but also 2012 with a reported decline of
over 16%. With the numbers soon to be released for the year 2013, we are
expecting another significant decline in the international parental child
abduction rate.
Worldwide
abduction rates have not been reported since 2008. This has little to do with
the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference, but instead a failure by signatory
countries to report their inbound and outbound abduction rate. However, it is
believed that the global rate of abduction continues to steadily climb out
disturbing rates. With that being said, in conjunction with the worldwide launch
and utilization of the I CARE Foundation's International Travel Child Consent
Form, we are expecting to actually see a decline in the global rate of
abduction.
The I CARE Foundation's International Travel Child Consent Form:
One
of the best tools that parents can use to protect their children this holiday
season is the I CARE Foundation's International
Travel Child Consent Form.
In
the short time that this ground-breaking abduction prevention tool has been in
use, not only has it made an enormous impact in the world of international child
abduction, but it has also been acknowledged by major child abduction prevention
stakeholders around the world.
Peter
Thomas Senese, the I CARE Foundation's Executive Director, reports on the
success of the Travel Consent Form thus far:
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.
So
yes, there is hope to prevent this nightmare. If you’d like to learn more about
international parental child abduction and how to prevent it, read Peter
Senese’s best-selling novel, Chasing The Cyclone. It's a
story about a father’s search for his internationally abducted son and is based
on Peter's own personal experiences.
In
addition, Chasing The Cyclone has enabled something remarkable: it has
helped reunite children with their parents, as Peter Senese has so
generously donated 100% of his author royalties to the I CARE Foundation.
In
the words of Peter Senese, "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."
Testimonials Regarding Peter Senese And His Advocacy Work
Clearly,
protecting children from parental abduction requires an incredible commitment to
stand unbowed so children and their families may never know the nightmare that
is the world of international abduction. Peter Senese made a promise years ago,
one that would have him doing what he could to ensure that parents wouldn't have
to experience what he did while he was chasing the cyclone. He has proven time
and again that he is deeply committed to his goal of preventing child
abduction.
There
are dozens of
sworn testimonial letters from individuals regarding the advocacy and volunteer
work that Peter does each and every day. Many of these letters are related
to recovering and bringing home children who were abducted or who were targeted
for abduction, however there are also several letters that share his deep desire
for helping others who may be facing severe medical issues.
The cornerstone for all his and the renown I CARE Foundation’s work originates from Mr. Senese’s fulfillment of a promise, of which, "Chasing The Cyclone" is a part. Unquestionably, our children are well-served by its publication and the kind, compassionate, and generous assistance of Mr. Senese.
The advisory capabilities of Mr. Senese cannot be underestimated . . . Mr. Senese played a pivotal role in assuring and securing my child’s safety . . . Extraordinarily, Peter Thomas Senese’s dedication to children in crisis does not stop with those at risk of abduction: Peter’s work assisting children and their families fighting life-threatening health conditions is equally significant.
Not only is ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ educating others about the crisis at hand, a call-to-arms accurately fitting the bill, but it is a story that’s publication has had a major impact on society. Specifically, Peter Senese has donated 100% of his book royalties to the I CARE Foundation, a not-for profit child abduction prevention organization that is doing some truly remarkable things to help protect children and parents targeted for abduction
If
reading this post has educated, shocked or touched you in any way, the best
thing you could do is to share it on your social media networks and in your
blogs – this message has the potential to save the lives of children and their
families. Even if it helps to save one life, it’s worth it!
As
well, over the holidays, in an effort to help prevent international child
abduction, take a few moments and educate yourself about the WARNING
SIGNS of international parental child abduction. It not only
protects your children but perhaps other children you might know.... isn't that
worth a few minutes of your time?
If
you would like to learn more about the criminal act and schemes of parental
child abduction, or to
download a free copy of the International Travel Child Consent Form visit
the I CARE Foundation
website.
If
an international parental child abduction is imminent or is in progress, click
here.
And
lastly, to purchase your copy of Chasing The Cyclone, please visit Amazon or Barnes
and Noble.
Wishing
you the best of the holiday season!
