The Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Private Law

Since the late 20th century there has been an increase migration in of people due to the development of new technologies, easier ways of travel and the opening of national borders. People travel abroad for jobs, studies, or exploring new countries. During these travels some of them find life partners abroad, settle down there, conclude marriages and establish families. It often happens that such marriages end in divorce. If children are born in such a wedlock questions arise as to who will take care of them, who will pay maintenance etc. In some cases a parent decides to solve a conflict situation in such a way that he/she moves with the child without consent of the other parent to another place within the country or he/she decides to move to another country, usually to the country of his/her origin. He/she wants to settle there with the child and to legalize staying there. Such removal where national borders are crossed is considered to be international child abduction. The basic document dealing with the issue of international child abductions is the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (hereinafter the Hague Convention) adopted on 25 October 1980 and currently acceded to by 87 states. The Hague Convention establishes rules according to which cases of..