Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

International Child Abduction — [Judith Cummins in the Chair]

22 March 2023 · 11 other contributors · 12,935 words

Opened by David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner

Responding minister: Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Foreign AffairsChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

David Simmonds raised concerns about international child abduction — [judith cummins in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The debate focuses on the enforcement of UK court decisions regarding child abduction cases, particularly concerning Poland.
  • Despite due process in the UK, there are delays and legal complexities in Poland that hinder the swift return of children.
  • The MP asks the Government to present evidence to the Polish government to ensure swift compliance with international law.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Government to take seriously the plight of affected constituents and place evidence before the Polish government to seek swift compliance with international law decisions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner

The debate focuses on the enforcement of UK court decisions in international law regarding child abduction cases. The speaker highlights that despite due process being followed in the UK, these decisions are not consistently respected abroad, particularly by Poland. He notes a case where his constituent's child was taken to Poland without consent and points out that Brussels II and IIa regulations apply alongside The Hague convention. However, enforcement has been disappointing, especially at local levels within Poland, leading to delays and legal complexities such as additional appeal stages that delay the return of children.

Other contributors (11)
  • Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick

    Mr Slaughter highlighted the issue of children being taken to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in cases where due process has been followed, resulting in a breakdown of legal procedures. He described a specific case involving a father who lost custody after seven years of litigation and whose children were taken to TRNC just before the final appeal decision was handed down. Mr Slaughter pointed out that UK authorities are unable to intervene as they do not recognise the TRNC's courts. He suggested the Government look into providing legal aid for non-Hague convention cases, engaging with individual countries on this issue, and suspending children's passports during residence proceedings. Asked the minister for more information on contacts with law enforcement authorities in the TRNC, noting that while diplomatic relations are not being established, there is currently no redress.

  • Anum Qaisar Lab Glasgow North East

    Expressed concern about the lack of universal adoption and ratification of The Hague convention, urging the UK Government to push for its universal ratification. Highlighted that 215,000 children go missing in the UK each year and Save the Children estimates up to 1.2 million children globally are being trafficked at any given time. Emphasised the need for robust legislative measures to protect victims of domestic abuse from accusations of child abduction.

  • Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green

    Charalambous discussed the challenges of international parental child abduction, highlighting that while global interconnectivity can have benefits, it also presents risks. He cited Reunite International's statistic of 515 new cases in 2022 and noted difficulties in measuring the current scale of the problem accurately. He emphasised the need for a robust response to address this issue and improve support networks for parents affected by child abduction.

  • Fleur Anderson Lab Putney

    The Member expressed concern about the impact of Brexit on child abduction cases, noting that over 1,200 cases were considered by UK courts in 2021. She highlighted the lack of reciprocal enforcement of family court orders after Brexit and criticised the current Secretary of State's stance as tone deaf to victims' experiences.

  • Jonathan Gullis Lab Ealing, North

    The Member of Parliament drew attention to the emotional toll international child abduction has on families and suggested that there should be better support mechanisms in place for affected individuals.

  • Jonathan Lord Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner

    Mr Jonathan Lord welcomed the supporters of Hague Mothers and discussed the challenges faced by mothers under the 1980 Hague convention who flee domestic abuse with their children. He highlighted that most cases involving domestic abuse are not considered a grave risk for children, making it difficult for mothers to oppose orders for child return. He also mentioned his constituent Nataly Anderson's case where her twin boys were taken to Croatia in 2016 and she seeks assistance from the UK Government.

  • Judith Cummins Lab Bradford South

    Welcomed members of the public and reminded Members to be cautious not to prejudice any live cases in the country.

  • Mark Fletcher Con Wellingborough

    Mr Fletcher raised the case of his constituent John Fletcher, whose daughter Maya was abducted to Poland in 2018. Despite court orders in both the UK and Poland, the Polish authorities have not assisted in returning Maya. Mr Fletcher has spent significant personal and financial resources trying to get his daughter back. Mr Fletcher appealed to the Minister for increased diplomatic engagement at a senior level with Poland on such cases.

  • Matthew Offord Con Hendon

    He has supported several parents in his constituency regarding international child abduction cases and raised issues with the Foreign Office, Interpol, and ambassadors of involved countries. He highlighted a case involving his constituent Beth Alexander who has been fighting for custody and contact with her twin sons in Austria for 10 years despite court rulings against her.

  • Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen

    The Member of Parliament underlined the importance of international cooperation in addressing cross-border family disputes and highlighted the need for clearer legal frameworks to protect children's best interests, citing specific cases from his constituency.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab York Central

    The Member of Parliament highlighted the complexities involved in cross-border family disputes and urged for a more streamlined process to resolve international child abduction issues, citing instances where children's welfare was compromised due to delays.

Government Response

Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The Minister responded to concerns about international parental child abduction by highlighting the UK's commitment to The Hague convention and its efforts to prevent such abductions through legal measures. She mentioned that concerned parents can obtain specific issue orders or prohibited steps orders to prevent a child from being taken out of the country, and courts can order the Passport Office not to issue passports to at-risk children. Reunite International guides were highlighted as a resource for parents navigating options and support available to them. The FCDO provides ongoing support through consular staff worldwide, offering practical advice on travel, local customs, services, and procedures. Support is also offered in finding English-speaking lawyers and accommodation locally. In cases where the UK does not operate the 1980 Hague convention with a country, assistance includes contact information for relevant authorities and organisations. Specific challenges were discussed regarding Poland and north Cyprus. The Minister acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve enforcement of return orders with Poland and highlighted capacity constraints in countries like Brazil as areas where additional support is provided.

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