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Cross-border Child Abduction

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The prime legal instrument in cases of international child abduction is the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction of October 15, 1980 (Federal Law Gazette, 1990, Part II, pp. 206 ff.), provided the child's new country of residence is, like Germany and Canada, party to the Convention. Every country party to the Convention has instituted central authorities responsible for taking all appropriate measures to ensure the immediate return of children illegally taken to, or detained in, such country.

The relevant Central Authority in Germany is:

Bundesamt für Justiz

Mailing Address
Adenauerallee 99 - 10, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Phone
National: 0228 99 410 - 40
oder 0228 99 410 - 5212
International: 011 49 228 99 410 - 5212
Fax
National: 0228 99 410 - 5050 oder 0228 99 410 - 5401
International: 011 49 228 99 410 - 5401
E-Mail
int.sorgerecht@bfj.bund.de
Internet
http://www.bundesjustizamt.de

In Canada:

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA

Federal Authority for the Hague Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction
Tel.: 613-996-1300 or 613-944-0016
Fax: 613-992-6485

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

National Missing Children Services
890 Taylor Creek
Orléans ON K1A 0R2
General Enquiries:
Tel.:1-877-318-3576

Further information on how to proceed, in particular with regard to the applicability of the Convention in individual cases and whether there may be a right to legal aid in Germany or in Canada, should be obtained from the Central Authorities.

The persons concerned can seek further advice of the following independent organizations:

In Germany:

Verband bi-nationaler Familien und Partnerschaften

Bundesgeschäftsstelle

Ludolfusstr. 2 - 4

60487 Frankfurt/Main

Tel.: 011 49 69 / 7137560 o. 7075088

Fax: 011 49 69 / 7075092

E-mail: verband-binationaler@t-online.de

Internet: http://www.verband-binationaler.de

Internationaler Sozialdienst e.V. (ISD)

Am Stockborn 5 - 7

60439 Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Tel.: 011 49 69 / 9580702

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz

Beratungsstelle bei Kindesmitnahme/Kindesentzug

Luisenstr. 45

10179 Berlin (Mitte), Germany

Tel.: 011 49 30 / 2826731 o. 63

Fax: 011 49 30 / 2386704

The website of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada provides an extensive manual on child abduction for parents, including a national and provincial directory of assistance:

Information on child abduction from the website of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

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