The Effects of Parental Kidnapping

The effects of parental kidnapping are being taken into account in more court cases world wide due to the rapid increase in the number of children being abducted.  Parental kidnapping, also known as parental abduction occurs when one parent violates a court order and relocates a child from their home to another State, or country. According to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of State receives reports over 1200 new cases of parental kidnapping annually.

Parental kidnapping cases originating in the United States fall into two categories, Hague and non-Hague cases.  When a child is taken from one State to another, these are known as non-Hague cases, and are governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA.)  The UCCJEA has been adopted by 49 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.   The UCCJEA sets rules for child custody litigation in the courts of the child’s “home state,” which is defined as the state where the child has lived with a parent for six consecutive months prior to the commencement of the custody proceedings.

In cases where a child is taken from one country to another officials rely on the HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION.  93 countries to date have joined The Hague Convention.  The Hague Convention is meant to secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to or retained in any Contracting State and
to ensure that rights of custody and of access under the law of one Contracting State are effectively respected in the other Contracting States.

Parental Kidnapping is a Violation of Human Rights

“Human rights are based on a principle of respect for the individual. Their fundamental assumption is that each person is a moral and rational being that deserves to be treated with dignity.  They mean choice and opportunity. They mean the freedom to obtain a job, adopt a career, select a partner of one’s choice and raise children. “ – Human Rights. org

Parental Kidnapping has Long-Term Affects on a Child’s Life

In the most brutal cases of parental kidnapping children are given new names and have had their appearance altered.  They are regularly instructed by parents not to give their real names, birth date, or home addresses.  In order to avoid detection and recovery abductors may move locations on a regular basis.

Parental kidnapping also has a negative effect on school performance and social relationships. Establishing friendships can also be difficult for abducted children, as most are not allowed to attend school or join clubs.   In many cases health also suffers for an abducted child since regular visits to a doctor can be difficult without proper insurance.  Abducted children using false names and altered identities rarely have insurance due to the fact that their new identity cannot be verified.

Parental Kidnapping is Traumatic for Children

A 1983 study on the effects of parental abduction sampled 18 children.  These children were all seen for psychiatric evaluations following recoveries from abductions or threats of abduction. Sixteen of the eighteen suffered emotionally from the experience. Their exhibited grief and rage toward the parent they had been taken from and an unnatural loyalty to the abducting parent. This effect has become known as Parental Alienation Syndrome.  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sampled 104 parental abduction cases in 1992 and they found that more than 50 percent of the recovered children experienced symptoms of anxiety, sleep disorders as well as eating disorders.

ABP World Group is always ready to help those affected by parental kidnapping.  We offer a range of services from low cost legal assistance to child recovery so we may effectively help reinstate your child’s fundamental rights.

ABP World Group conducts investigations and assists clients locate and rescue their kidnapped children wherever they may be.  Our highly trained experts do what it takes to bring your child home after a parental kidnapping.