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.

Finding Home website

Child-friendly website providing child-centred information on International Parental Abduction.

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Cross-Borders Mediators website

On this website you can search our database of certified family mediators trained to mediate in cross border context

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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

iCare

The project aims to contribute to a better understanding and case handling of international child abduction cases.

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INCLUDE

The project aims to enhance the wellbeing of children at all stages of an international child abduction: from the start of the case until the enforcement and after return.

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VOICE

The project focused on informing judges, legal professionals and mediators on how to assess the best interest of the child in International Child Abduction cases.

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E-WELL

This project involved a large-scale research study on the psychological effects of an international child abduction on the wellbeing of abducted children.

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