What is a child abduction?
When an international family conflict escalates, it can lead to a child abduction, which occurs when children are taken to or kept in a country other than their normal residence by a parent against the will of the other. To prevent and resolve these abductions, Missing Children Europe coordinates the network of Cross-Border Family Mediators - a growing network of ca. 200 trained, bi-cultural mediators that represent 40 countries across the world. They are trained to engage directly with parents to find a solution that reflects the specific family situation.
Facts & Figures
Over 1100
of International Child Abductions are reported each year.
75%
of solved cases are thanks to either full or partial mediation agreements.
Mediation is 60%
cheaper and 7 times faster than a court proceeding (on average 43 days instead of 18 months).
Resources
For professionals
iCare E-Platform for professionals working on ICA – Check it out
INCLUDE – Guide to Good Practice: Recommendations based on the views of children and young people to professionals involved in international child abductions – Download
Country Report: Cyprus – Download
Country Report: Hungary – Download
Country Report: Belgium– Download
Methodological guidelines for child participation in the INCLUDE project – Download
Legal Framework and Literature Study – Download
E-well: Summary of the research findings – Download
E-well: Full research report – Download
E-well: Country profiles – Download
E-well Recommendations – Download
The Voice: Summary of the psychological research results – Download
The Voice: Full psychological research report – Download
The Voice: Summary of the legal research results – Download
The Voice: Full focus group research report – Download
The Voice: Training for professionals on the child in international child abduction cases (presentation) – Download
#SuiBambiniNonSiTratta – The invisible disappearance that makes noise. [Italian] – Download
ITAKA’s Centre for Support and Mediation website [Polish] – Check it out
For parents
iCare chatbot – Check it out
INCLUDE – Guide to Good Practice: Recommendations based on the views of children and young people to professionals involved in international child abductions – Download
Country Report: Cyprus – Download
Country Report: Hungary – Download
Country Report: Belgium– Download
The Voice: Summary of the psychological research results – Download
The Voice: Position Paper on the voice of the child in cases of international child abduction – Download
#SuiBambiniNonSiTratta – The invisible disappearance that makes noise. [Italian] – Download
Legal guide for families at risk of parental abduction [Polish] – Download
Psychological guide for families at risk of parental abduction [Polish] – Download
Infographics on parental abduction cases during summer holiday [Polish] – Download
ITAKA’s Centre for Support and Mediation website [Polish] – Check it out
For children
iCare chatbot – Check it out
FindingHome website – Check it out
Projects
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