Kids Without Voices

[Daisym0use]

Has anyone followed the case of the 4 Australian girls being forced back to Italy by the Hague Convention.

www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-03/family-court-orders-sisters-to-return-to-italy/4293442

Just wanted to say I know the law is the law but I feel so sad for these girls that they have not been listened to. When will the views of children be taken seriously? These girls will now be ripped from the mother they desparately want to stay with and forced on a plane to live with their father thousands of miles away. What sort of a life can they have with a man who has so blatently disregarded their feelings. Surely there must have been another way so that the girls mainatained good relations with both parents.

Just felt so sad about it I had to write it down

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

It's only a judgement of Solomon situation because the parents are being stubborn. Either parent could move country and not be parted from their kids.

[Daisym0use]

Yes, thats what I mean about there must be another way. Really sad situation, now these kids have parents thousands of miles apart.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

But you're blaming the father when it was the mother that took them from Italy on the pretext of a short holiday. Whatever the back story the mother was not in a position to do that. The father is lucky on this occasion that Australia is cooperative in cases like this. There have been a few cases of Japanese wives doing similar things and the chidren are never seen by their fathers again.

[Daisym0use]

I'm not blaming the father, I think both parents are at fault. I'm sad for the children

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

"What sort of a life can they have with a man who has so blatently disregarded their feelings. ".... so you didn't actually mean that?

[wfhmumoftwo]

I dont see how the father can be blamed here. All he wants is his daughters back, he never agreed for them to go and in effect their mother kidnapped them. If it was the other way round everyone would be demanding they be returned to Italy.

Their mother should never have taken them away - of course, following family breakdown it is natural to want to return to family and friends, but unfortunately you cannot do that. She should have stayed in Italy until the children were grown up and then they could decide where they wanted to be.

If it was me, i would be returning to Italy to live too.

[Daisym0use]

I know I said that but no-one has listened to these kids. I've followed the case and the children just haven't been listened to. I've said I know what the law is. I'm not looking for an argument I just feel so sad for these girls who haven't been listened to. The eldest is 15 and will be shunted onto a plane against her wishes. I have even heard talk of handcuffs and sedation if the girls don't comply! What sort of a world do we live in?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

We live in a world where some people are just bad parents.

[Lueji]

Child abduction.
She is lucky not to be prosecuted, really.

Sometimes courts grant a status quo sentence, but that's just rewarding criminal behaviour, as the mother's.

Unless the father was abusive, the children should never have been taken from Italy.
And the mother should be the first person to go back. Not at her convenience.

[Daisym0use]

She didn't kidnap them, she took them to Australia with his blessing but he changed his mind.
I agree she went about it the wrong way, she should have got it all down in writing and rubber stamped. What a terrible mess. Yes I'd be on the first plane to Italy. I hope they can get away from court and away from all the official stuff and maybe come to some civilised arrangement where the girls benefit from a good relationship with both parents