My friends and I have personally lived the nightmare of parental abduction. The pain, confusion, and the long-lasting effects that these situations impose on children are devastating. Not only the abducted child suffers, but it also has a profound impact on the left-behind parent, siblings, and extended family.  Please review the links at the bottom for more information on parental abduction and links for organizations that support victims and left behind family.

Each year, thousands of children are taken from their homes, schools, and lives by a parent without the legal right to do so. From these distressing experiences, we believe that it's time to bring about serious change and strengthen the child protection framework.

We request the adoption of the recommendations published by the US Department of Justice concerning parental abduction.  These are to enforce existing laws (it is a crime in all 50 states), define "missing person" to include parental abductions where the child's location is known, and to include training from the NCMEC with existing domestic violence training.

We also believe that the so called "silver bullet" (restraining orders involving children) are a loophole that should be closed.  These should be treated as a report of child abuse and automatically prompt a custody case—ensuring the child’s welfare is safeguarded from the outset.  

According to statistics from the Department of Justice, family members perpetrate more than 200,000 child abductions each year (Juvenile Justice Bulletin; October 2000). This alarming figure demonstrates the pressing need for states to do more to protect vulnerable children trapped within these complex familial situations.

What we seek is not for the benefit of us alone, but for the safety and wellbeing of all children across America. Together, let's ensure the justice system prioritizes these innocent victims, and not overlook potential cases of child abuse or abduction.

Your signature can bring us closer to implementing this pivotal change. Sign this petition today.

Support abducted children and left-behind family at Take Root

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

US DOJ - OJJDP - Response to Parental Abduction

US DOJ - OJJDP - Parental Abduction - a review of the literature

Hon. William Rigler - Parental Child Snatching - An overview 
(originally published by the US State Department)

US Congress - Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980

US DOJ - Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act

US State Dept - Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Parental Abduction