A mother of two in Toronto, Canada, believed her Canadian custody order was enough to ensure the return of her children from a trip to Europe with their father. Zaiba Zaiba agreed to permit her children, Mateen, 7, and Hosna, 4, to visit their father’s uncle in Norway, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and several news reports. The children, along with their father, left Canada on June 25, and were to be returned on or before July 23. On July 21, Zaiba received a call from her ex-husband. He removed the children from Norway and entered into Afghanistan with no intent of returning them home. These alleged statements reported by the CBC remind everyone of the chilling reality when children are abducted to non-Hague Convention countries.

What is the Hague Convention?

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction was implemented by U.S. Congress in the International Child Abduction Remedies Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11601. The Hague Convention, as it is simply known, was enacted “to protect children internationally from the harmful effects of their wrongful removal or retention and to establish procedures to ensure their prompt return to the state of their habitual residence.” The Hague Abduction Convention country signatory list is available on the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website. These specific countries work with other signatory countries to bring children back to their home or “state of habitual residence.”

Does the Hague assist in determining custody rights?

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