Being a victim of The Hague convention at first hand, in my situation a few years ago when I myself had to flee Europe to America to my home state of Kentucky with my children to escape an abusive relationship. That was coercive and demeaning. The European father of the children, backed by his wealthy family, they filed a Hague Convention case against me for leaving the country without his the father’s permission.. While he and his parents could afford between 3 to 6 lawyers at one point both in Europe and USA, I on the other hand had been cut off by my abuser from all accounts and valuables in Europe with no access to funds and could barely afford one lawyer. Despite being in America, and asking for help there since the children are half American and have citizenship, the European country got jurisdiction, although abuse evidence was submitted. In detail. But because I fled Europe without the father’s permission the French were given the authority of half American children. I was faced with the devastation of The Hague convention to which if I would have went to it would have cost $60-70,000 in fees. To which I did not have. I was told by my own lawyer to give up as no one will take on your case due to you not having the finances… While the abusive parent gets funded by The Hague convention and assistance due to the fact he is the “left behind parent”. Also in my circumstance without financial support in Europe being dependent on the father of the children and being a stay home mother all those years, with little legal knowledge of the language, and fearing a life in a foreign country, if I stayed there to fight him in court, I decided to stay in the USA and try to stand up for myself here. So I stayed in America where I knew the language and my rights. it’s unfortunate the children are now 4000 miles away and was told they had to be returned, when they should be with their mother. I fear this Hague convention traps many women from leaving abuse and it takes advantage of their vulnerability and financial situation. Also if you have to deal with a narcissist it’s 10x worse because they basically flip it all around on you.

The Hague Convention, while designed to protect children's rights, can unintentionally place them back in harmful environments when applied without consideration of the complexities of abuse cases. This can alienate them from

the devoted parents with the least amount of financial resources. Flights etc. The framework can be manipulated by abusers to continue exerting control over victims who have bravely fled across borders. Or even control them for years to come by demanding child support payments after taking the children.

Statistics reveal alarming trends. According to a 2015 study by the Hague Domestic Violence Project, 50% of female respondents reported experiencing domestic violence before and during the Convention proceedings. Furthermore, a report by the U.S. Department of Justice underscores cases where children were returned to abusers due to technicalities in the Convention's application.

This petition seeks to shed light on the detrimental effects the Hague Convention can have on victims of domestic abuse and their children. There's an urgent need for amendments that prioritize the safety and well-being of children and survivors over rigid legalistic approaches. Governments should institute safeguards ensuring that cases involving domestic violence are carefully considered and given appropriate interventions.

Encouraging transparency and scrutiny in these cases is crucial, alongside providing resources and legal aid to survivors who stand against overwhelming odds. Governments should invest in training legal practitioners on the nuances of domestic violence to make more informed decisions.

Sign this petition to urge policymakers to reevaluate the Hague Convention parameters, thereby carving a path for protective reform.

Together, let's fight for justice and the safety of children and survivors worldwide. Sign and share this petition to make a difference.