Nick Lampson: “this weekend I brought together international leaders at a luncheon in London to discuss the problem of international…”

“this weekend I brought together international leaders at a luncheon in London to discuss the problem of international parental child abduction. This is an issue that touches families everywhere and an issue, to be solved, needs to be addressed everywhere. The luncheon was very productive, and I hope that it will lead to action by my foreign counterparts. National boundaries are no barrier to the transportation and victimization of children. Today, there is no enforceable global system to attack and address this problem. Despite legal, law enforcement, and diplomatic mechanisms, many cases are not identified. Many children are not recovered. Many children who are located are not returned to their country of origin due to legal and procedural problems. This situation causes anger, outrage, and pain for searching parents around the world. Unless urgent and rapid action is taken, more and more children will be denied their most basic right, that of having access to both parents. The challenge is now to find commitment at both national and international levels to implement these actions. Family disputes and divorce will never go away. Parental child abduction, however, must be eradicated.”