Reforming the Hague Convention (mothers stuck overseas)

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

There's a thread going on elsewhere about a couple potentially moving overseas and one of the drawbacks mentioned was the 'Hague Convention'. As a result of this convention, according to Globalarrk,

"International law states that when you arrive in a new country with the intention of staying, the ‘habitual residence’ of your child shifts to that new country.

So unless the other parent gives you permission to take your children back home, you will need to apply to the LOCAL court to override this. It doesn’t matter if all the family are of the same nationality, or how long you’ve been abroad; it doesn’t matter if you’re fleeing domestic violence and poverty; it doesn’t even matter if the other parent is in prison and you are the sole carer! By law, you must stay put and wait for the local court to decide if you can go back home with your children."

As a result there are many 'stuck parents' around the world, and, of course, most are women.

Below are the ongoing results of Globalarrk's 2016-2017 stuck parent survey.

99% of the stuck parents who completed the survey are mothers
94% are primary carers
They are stuck in 35 different countries
42% of parents are from the UK
66% of parents are different nationalities and 34% are same nationality
30% of cases have involved The Hague Convention 1980
93% of parents said they had suffered some form of abuse since moving abroad including physical violence, psychological and financial abuse.
87% of parents did not know they could become ‘stuck’ prior to moving abroad.

There has been a petition started to challenge this and I thought women here might like to sign it.

www.change.org/p/signatory-countries-to-the-hague-convention-amend-the-hague-this-october-2017

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

I'm just bumping this because it is important to women and all you need to do is sign a petition...

//www.change.org/p/signatory-countries-to-the-hague-convention-amend-the-hague-this-october-2017

[PricklyBall]

Done!

[shouldishorrible]

As this issue has effected me hugely, I have signed.
I would advise any woman with children to think very very carefully before moving to another country with their husband/partner and children.
It was only when things in my marriage started to go very badly wrong that I learned of the hague convention and how it would impact.
I really hope this starts to be reconsidered by the UN.

[MarciaBlaine]

Done

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

I am sorry for all those who have been affected by this. I haven't been, but it strikes me that this is a really important issue for women and I'd like to see more pledge to sign... Thanks to those who have signed!

[SomethingOnce]

I may have misunderstood, but can a smarter person than me give reassurance that point 3 will not be open to exploitation from people wishing to use other people (most likely women) and children as a means of ensuring visa eligibility?