tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201117602024-03-13T04:59:51.284-07:00International Family LawJeremy D. Morley concentrates on International Family Law. The firm works with clients around the world from its New York office, with a global network of local counsel.
Mr Morley is the author of "International Family Law Practice", the leading treatise on international family law in the U.S., and "The Hague Abduction Convention", published by the American Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a former law professor.Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comBlogger739125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-33653304827536259012023-08-29T06:34:00.003-07:002023-08-29T06:34:27.526-07:00U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST ROMANIA FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Romania has been declared by the State
Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uvwbv3MAjqMRHVh0On82XrrrP25vq_7HC4nlyE5apTUozvm2Pfb8ioKkPBBn8_F8iovpN5rcGRwv_nFlh2GmZVMCuq82VJ1O382jVaveaGeQN2RrqHRirZplJvq_S6-YEE4XGxNptior4wuRNSuJ6B5CfCz3KSlPstSPgZEXFB_Wsudj3afX/s540/romania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uvwbv3MAjqMRHVh0On82XrrrP25vq_7HC4nlyE5apTUozvm2Pfb8ioKkPBBn8_F8iovpN5rcGRwv_nFlh2GmZVMCuq82VJ1O382jVaveaGeQN2RrqHRirZplJvq_S6-YEE4XGxNptior4wuRNSuJ6B5CfCz3KSlPstSPgZEXFB_Wsudj3afX/s320/romania.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Romania:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials, in Washington, DC, and at
the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, continued to raise concerns about Romania’s
demonstration of a pattern of noncompliance with Government of Romania
officials. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In October 2022, Department officials and U.S.
Embassy Bucharest officials met with the Romanian Central Authority to raise
concerns over the lack of enforcement of Convention return orders, as well as
judicial delays. In May 2023, the Senior Consular Representative at the U.S.
Mission to the European Union informed the EU of Romania’s citation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Romania as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->On June 13, 2023, U.S. Embassy Bucharest
delivered a demarche to the Romanian government stating the Department had
cited Romania in the 2023 Annual Report for demonstrating a pattern of
noncompliance and requesting assistance in resolving the existing abduction
cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in;">Jeremy D.
Morley has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such
matters concerning Romania.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-90924068553812255342023-08-28T07:06:00.002-07:002023-08-28T07:06:24.637-07:00 U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The Republic of Korea has been declared by
the State Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMSHE8796GtoEk3h9yxnrAZwBm-cBGcnonHtOLJh6oEp8GU5L6_10d071-PKS6Jd3lintjeuWuBSCxfY9SGrnLWgA67ogG-z_dYFrOG2T7cRPba_MdSdfo4DNHVIwrhFGHfTL21HSC9Fd5NRGZvVdw1Vm2m2yGiUeLnhA8RhpcYpvDYfb1opZ/s612/KOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="612" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMSHE8796GtoEk3h9yxnrAZwBm-cBGcnonHtOLJh6oEp8GU5L6_10d071-PKS6Jd3lintjeuWuBSCxfY9SGrnLWgA67ogG-z_dYFrOG2T7cRPba_MdSdfo4DNHVIwrhFGHfTL21HSC9Fd5NRGZvVdw1Vm2m2yGiUeLnhA8RhpcYpvDYfb1opZ/s320/KOR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against the Republic of Korea:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials in Washington, DC, and at
the U.S. Embassy in Seoul continued to raise concerns about the ROK’s failure
to enforce Convention return orders. In October 2022, the Department’s Office
of Children’s Issues met with the ROK Embassy in Washington, DC, to urge
compliance with the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In December 2022, the Special Advisor for
Children’s Issues met with various ROK government officials in Seoul, including
MFA, Ministry of Justice, and Supreme Court representatives, to discuss the
country’s pattern of noncompliance with the Convention and to offer assistance
to improve compliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In January 2023, the U.S. Ambassador to ROK and
Consul General met with the Minister of Justice in Seoul and urged prompt
resolution of outstanding child abduction cases.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In February 2023, the Assistant Secretary of
State for Consular Affairs met with senior MFA officials in Seoul to express
concerns regarding the ROK’s failure to resolve outstanding child abduction
cases under the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In February 2023, the Special Advisor for
Children's Issues wrote an editorial article for a popular Korean newspaper.
The article urged the resolution of child abduction cases. In March 2023, the
Special Advisor for Children’s Issues raised the country’s pattern of noncompliance
with ROK Embassy officials in Washington, DC, and offered assistance to improve
compliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, officials from the Department’s
Bureaus of Consular Affairs and East Asia and the Pacific met with a senior
advisor to the ROK President in Washington, DC, to discuss the pattern of
noncompliance with the Convention and offer any necessary assistance to improve
compliance. Also in April, the Special Advisor for Children’s Issues met with
the ROK Counselor for Legal Affairs in Washington, DC, to discuss ROK’s
formation of a task force to address challenges with child abduction cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed ROK as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the
U.S. Embassy in Seoul delivered a demarche to the Deputy Minister for Overseas
Koreans and Consular Affairs at the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
regarding the country’s noncompliance and requesting information on plans to
improve the enforcement of Convention return orders. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">Jeremy D. Morley
has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters
concerning <a name="_Hlk144108097">the Republic of Korea</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-19152284215008521422023-08-25T06:42:00.008-07:002023-08-25T06:42:54.698-07:00 U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST PERU FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Peru has been declared by the State
Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention for the last
nine years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx0l7cgCr0NJDg39kLsbFe-WMPx0VoFLWU5oCADxjCww2dbJYJFR3QUT9vTNH5olRPh3_sV3zYnye_df__jXhFEF13kR5BtaTyNnuvQfMkznj1lvWrHcb6mrbs9y_t-0gj8PK2oGSIb3J4iYQkBPp5zinOWqDaFYwkzuaHhZ_kItqdDfEWedD/s894/PERU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="894" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx0l7cgCr0NJDg39kLsbFe-WMPx0VoFLWU5oCADxjCww2dbJYJFR3QUT9vTNH5olRPh3_sV3zYnye_df__jXhFEF13kR5BtaTyNnuvQfMkznj1lvWrHcb6mrbs9y_t-0gj8PK2oGSIb3J4iYQkBPp5zinOWqDaFYwkzuaHhZ_kItqdDfEWedD/s320/PERU.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Peru:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The Department frequently raised concerns with
the Government of Peru about Peru’s repeated demonstration of a pattern of
noncompliance. In July 2022, Department officials met with Embassy of Peru
representatives in Washington, DC. The Department raised concerns about
judicial delays, enforcement challenges for court-ordered returns, and the
Peruvian Central Authority’s lack of participation in safe-return planning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In September 2022, Department officials met with
Embassy of Peru representatives in Washington, DC, to emphasize compliance
concerns, safe return planning for a longstanding case, lack of enforcement of
a courtordered return, and opportunities for collaboration. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In October 2022, Department officials met with
Embassy of Peru representatives in Washington, DC, to discuss a longstanding
unresolved case and potential collaboration on judicial training for judges
hearing Convention cases in Peru.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In November 2022, at the U.S.-European Union
Consular Dialogue, Department officials discussed a multilateral approach to
address shared concerns with Peru’s noncompliance with the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In December 2022, Department officials coordinated
a meeting between the Embassy of Peru and the U.S. Department of Justice to
discuss how the AMBER Alert system for missing and abducted children works in
the United States, and the potential for implementing a similar system in Peru.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In February 2023, Department officials met with
Peruvian Central Authority representatives to discuss Convention case
developments. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In March 2023, Department officials met with
Embassy of Peru representatives in Washington, DC. Department officials raised
concerns about the lack of enforcement of a court-ordered return and offered to
support future judicial training for judges in Peru. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Lima met with
the Peruvian Hague Network Judge and discussed how Convention cases are
processed in the Peruvian judiciary and the possibility of planning a judicial
training in Peru for judges hearing Convention cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Peru as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, the Deputy Chief of Mission
and the Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Lima delivered a demarche to the
Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating the Department cited Peru in the
2023 Annual Report for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. The demarche
expressed the Department’s concern regarding Peru’s pattern of noncompliance,
including the Peruvian Central Authority’s lack of effective communication with
the U.S. Central Authority and not adequately participating in safe return
planning related to a court-ordered return of a child to the United States. The
demarche also expressed concerns about judicial delays in Convention cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">Jeremy D. Morley
has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters
concerning Peru.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-60320166623003912352023-08-24T05:50:00.003-07:002023-08-24T05:50:19.590-07:00U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST JORDAN FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk142570384" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction.</a></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Jordan has been declared by the State
Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention for the last
eight years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OTZ4Q_5n7mChKg602BZRZ7D-727L9VqdTXsUG3klTZoM6FQD3lAYXLKoy6j120tP6b5hq9fllUdTjcTTelsfOf_RXeNr26bBsAUa0RzFPr-Oxg5JtzmoYOqy_b2IFQoIJwFMQvMz_srHHr5wZgiXilVmGF4TX6bV-CHOm45Nu_xMb3nccTeD/s6120/JOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="6120" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OTZ4Q_5n7mChKg602BZRZ7D-727L9VqdTXsUG3klTZoM6FQD3lAYXLKoy6j120tP6b5hq9fllUdTjcTTelsfOf_RXeNr26bBsAUa0RzFPr-Oxg5JtzmoYOqy_b2IFQoIJwFMQvMz_srHHr5wZgiXilVmGF4TX6bV-CHOm45Nu_xMb3nccTeD/s320/JOR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Jordan:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Senior officials in the Bureau of Consular
Affairs engaged with the Government of Jordan on the issue of IPCA. Department
officials pressed the Jordanian government to assist with resolving abduction
cases and to accede to the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In March 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Amman
delivered a diplomatic note to the Jordanian government requesting their
assistance in resolving existing child abduction cases. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Jordan as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, Department officials met with
the Canadian Central Authority to identify potential avenues of multilateral
collaboration to urge the Jordanian government to resolve reported cases.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, U.S. Embassy Amman delivered a
demarche notifying the Jordanian government that the Department cited Jordan in
the 2023 Annual Report for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance and
requested Jordan’s assistance to resolve reported cases. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In June 2023, the Special Advisor for Children’s
Issues traveled to Jordan for meetings with Jordanian officials to discuss
areas of cooperation and concerns with resolving international parental child
abduction cases. The visit included meetings with a local non-governmental
organization to discuss the new Child Rights Act, the Mediation Directorate,
and Sharia court judges. In addition, the Special Advisor oversaw a roundtable
discussion with foreign mission consuls from Canada, the United Kingdom, and
Australia to explore solutions to issues of common concern. <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">Jeremy D.
Morley has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such
matters concerning Jordan.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-79126352650153339282023-08-22T05:43:00.006-07:002023-08-22T05:43:51.872-07:00 U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST INDIA FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">India has been declared by the State
Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention for the last
eight years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpR5J7kBy4N69kRjKB2xZ3Oaw23g7C5TQxegYou_gHDGCvZSznBMwZQZANw72Bh_yofZbOHZoYUa-zmuThMHz1Ec2SkMSVd_bspRHMVFT1FA4PREpj3tbTDkacLaO4_o_PEACyTXXc0kKUwq8Jn1og_mbTDFCHkRkyKJuZNM-9mXTeUoRgLmX9/s894/ind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="894" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpR5J7kBy4N69kRjKB2xZ3Oaw23g7C5TQxegYou_gHDGCvZSznBMwZQZANw72Bh_yofZbOHZoYUa-zmuThMHz1Ec2SkMSVd_bspRHMVFT1FA4PREpj3tbTDkacLaO4_o_PEACyTXXc0kKUwq8Jn1og_mbTDFCHkRkyKJuZNM-9mXTeUoRgLmX9/s320/ind.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against India:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Officials at the highest levels of the
Department engaged with the Government of India on the issue of IPCA. Senior
U.S. government officials pressed the Indian government to assist with
resolving abduction cases and accede to the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi delivered
Diplomatic Notes in May 2022, June 2022, August 2022, and December 2022,
requesting the Government of India work with the Department through dedicated
bilateral meetings to resolve abduction cases. These Diplomatic Notes to the Ministry
of External Affairs also called for high-level dialogue between the Special
Advisor for Children’s Issues and the Indian Ministry of Women and Child
Development outside of the annual U.S.-India Consular Dialogue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2022, the Secretary of State met with
the Indian Minister of External Affairs as part of the U.S.-India 2+2
Ministerial and pressed the Indian government to assist with resolving all
pending abduction cases while highlighting the lack of progress on IPCA cases
since his first visit in July 2021. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In October 2022, a Department delegation, led by
the Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, met with Indian officials from the
Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of External Affairs,
marking the first high-level engagement on IPCA outside the annual U.S.-Indian
Consular Dialogue. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In December 2022, Department officials briefed
Indian judges and child advocates during an International Visitor Leadership
Program on child protection. Briefers discussed preventing and resolving IPCA
cases and provided information on U.S. law and the International Hague Network
of Judges. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In January 2023, the Special Advisor for
Children’s Issues met with the Indian Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington,
DC, and discussed ways to improve bilateral cooperation on IPCA, including
through increased outreach on U.S. resources available to families in the
United States to prevent abductions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In March 2023, Embassy New Delhi hosted a legal
symposium with over 400 attendees. The child-centric discussion brought
together Indian judicial leaders and government officials to discuss issues
surrounding and the effects of international custody disputes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, the Assistant Secretary for
Consular Affairs raised IPCA as a leading issue during the U.S.-India Consular
Dialogue with the Indian Joint Secretary of External Affairs and Joint
Secretary of Women and Child Development. The Indian government requested
additional details regarding a U.S. proposed working group to address IPCA and
related consular issues.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed India as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, U.S. Embassy New Delhi
delivered a demarche to the Ministry of External Affairs notifying the Indian
government that the Department had cited India in the 2023 Annual Report for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. The Special Advisor for Children’s
Issues also delivered the demarche to the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">Jeremy D.
Morley has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such
matters concerning India.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-68123569042877440572023-08-21T06:07:00.005-07:002023-08-21T06:07:31.011-07:00 U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST HONDURAS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Honduras has been declared by the State
Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC49dZ9_ngNTMuWboOUZzGCNwukBLqJoM6XEWLLu2eAubbZGwWNIpqjYWJ-djjgCi4qw98vOF63eoWs-M9ba1sroRQ2K-QKivFr5bZCJ9pgiO_bdes1KTStbsLJxfgwVIrDO3z1_T_EmBRj3murfeOBqt_9bOSqeb68h0ZCg1YSumrXDZRr1i/s987/hon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="987" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC49dZ9_ngNTMuWboOUZzGCNwukBLqJoM6XEWLLu2eAubbZGwWNIpqjYWJ-djjgCi4qw98vOF63eoWs-M9ba1sroRQ2K-QKivFr5bZCJ9pgiO_bdes1KTStbsLJxfgwVIrDO3z1_T_EmBRj3murfeOBqt_9bOSqeb68h0ZCg1YSumrXDZRr1i/s320/hon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Honduras:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials in Washington, DC, and at
the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa continued to raise concerns about Honduras’s
demonstration of a pattern of non-compliance with Government of Honduras
officials. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In October 2022, Department officials worked
closely with the Honduran Central Authority to help organize a judicial
training focused on child abductions in Honduras, which included judges,
attorneys, central authority participants, and other stakeholders. The
Department presented on the role of the U.S. Central Authority. Other experts
highlighted the need for expediency in processing Hague cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In October 2022, Department officials met with
the Director of the Honduran Central Authority to discuss concerns about
Honduras’s implementation of the Convention. The Department also recognized the
Honduran Central Authority’s efforts, including hiring a designated team to
handle abductions, and hosting a judicial training. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, Department officials met with
Embassy of Honduras representatives in Washington, DC, and discussed concerns
with Honduras’s Convention compliance. The Department emphasized the Honduran
Central Authority’s delays in processing cases as an area of concern.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Honduras as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa officials
delivered a demarche to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating the Department
cited Honduras in the 2023 Annual Report on International Child Abduction for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance during 2022. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">Jeremy D.
Morley has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such
matters concerning Honduras.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-36977661372850016852023-08-17T06:08:00.001-07:002023-08-17T06:14:16.939-07:00U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST EGYPT FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Egypt has been declared by the State
Department to be non-compliant with the Hague Abduction Convention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAgDOI2MekSc6WUPToP42U6bvxGA7XSPxN3t5tn-ZdvtVl6kt-H4Puss8TmKBIqeolwQL5dOJ5hTHLL45fCSmX_6fUJh2wfOKgStanQRAxLULuytJkSZSU1OJihx7WpvMDZ35FwqglC55tQgiOwD3_sjhdEmaYMGqpixKLBovHoJY67Ft23Io/s800/egypt-flag.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="800" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAgDOI2MekSc6WUPToP42U6bvxGA7XSPxN3t5tn-ZdvtVl6kt-H4Puss8TmKBIqeolwQL5dOJ5hTHLL45fCSmX_6fUJh2wfOKgStanQRAxLULuytJkSZSU1OJihx7WpvMDZ35FwqglC55tQgiOwD3_sjhdEmaYMGqpixKLBovHoJY67Ft23Io/s320/egypt-flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Egypt:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials continued to engage with
the Government of Egypt on the issue of IPCA. Department officials pressed the
Egyptian government to assist with resolving abduction cases and to take the
steps necessary to ratify the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In August 2022, the Special Advisor for
Children’s Issues met with the Egyptian Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington,
DC, to notify the embassy that the Department had cited Egypt in the 2022
Annual Report for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. They also discussed
possible actions that may lead to the Egyptian government’s ratification and
implementation of the Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In November 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo
delivered a diplomatic note to the Egyptian government requesting assistance in
resolving abduction cases.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Egypt as a country cited for demonstrating
a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, the Consul General at the U.S.
Embassy in Cairo delivered a demarche to the Assistant Foreign Minister for
Consular Affairs notifying the Egyptian government that the Department had
cited Egypt in the 2023 Annual Report for demonstrating a pattern of
noncompliance and once again requesting Egypt’s assistance with resolving
reported cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.25in;">Jeremy D.
Morley has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such
matters concerning Egypt.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-80278021891939382512023-08-16T06:02:00.004-07:002023-08-16T06:02:26.190-07:00 U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST ECUDAOR FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Ecuador has been declared by the State
Department to be noncompliant with the Hague Abduction Convention for each and
every year for the past eight years.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXTuNU56Q1aylOUUB9V7QetfSMif70QLdn592uv4BTmAXhdKiPhzxz64uyeVZ9-hTTuhrmV4seEVuQ62oQh74LyxIZbyOlul8obeNfxCPH9THP1Y0kGyiPOQjZTUtHHqiCJELGQbIVseeidXXOMUstsSbQwDin0RBgGK32VQXGhERXzixWTDX/s894/Ecu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="894" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXTuNU56Q1aylOUUB9V7QetfSMif70QLdn592uv4BTmAXhdKiPhzxz64uyeVZ9-hTTuhrmV4seEVuQ62oQh74LyxIZbyOlul8obeNfxCPH9THP1Y0kGyiPOQjZTUtHHqiCJELGQbIVseeidXXOMUstsSbQwDin0RBgGK32VQXGhERXzixWTDX/s320/Ecu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Ecuador:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials at the U.S. Embassy in
Quito continued to raise concerns with Government of Ecuador officials about
Ecuador’s demonstration of a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->During the October 2022 U.S.-Ecuador Consular
and Migration Bilateral Meeting, Department officials called on the Government
of Ecuador to improve coordination between the Ecuadorian Central Authority,
police, and public defenders. The Government of Ecuador affirmed its <br />commitment
to an inter-institutional dialogue on IPCA. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In November 2022, Department officials provided
technical assistance to the National Court of Justice for an Ecuadorian
judicial seminar on best practices in the resolution of Convention cases. The
seminar included presentations by Ecuadorian Central Authority officials,
public defenders, and international Convention experts, including the
representative for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Hague Conference on
Private International Law (Hague Permanent Bureau) and a Canadian Hague Network
Judge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In February 2023, Department officials
participated in the Government of Ecuador’s first inter-institutional IPCA
working group. The working group included technical experts from Ecuador’s
Central Authority, National Court of Justice, Judiciary Council, National Police,
Public Defender’s office, and the Hague Permanent Bureau.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Over the course of multiple meetings in February
and March 2023, the working group prepared a legislative reform proposal to
quicken IPCA response times. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, the Minister of Women and Human
Rights and the President of the National Court of Justice presented the working
group’s legislative reform package to the President of Ecuador’s National
Assembly as part of efforts to reform Ecuador’s Children’s Code and presented
an administrative protocol to expedite IPCA cases. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Since June 2022, the U.S. Central Authority has
held quarterly video conferences with the Ecuadorian Central Authority,
National Police, and Public Defender’s Office to discuss pending IPCA cases and
strategies to improve Convention implementation in Ecuador. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Ecuador as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Quito
delivered a demarche to the Ministry of Women and Human Rights. The Department
noted that Ecuador has been cited for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance
in the 2023 Annual Report.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Specifically, the judicial authorities failed to
regularly implement and comply with the provisions of the Convention, and
Ecuadorian authorities failed to take all appropriate measures to locate
children in a timely manner. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;">Jeremy D. Morley has provided
expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters concerning Ecuador.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-83600504535354337002023-08-15T05:51:00.002-07:002023-08-15T05:51:11.193-07:00 U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST BULGARIA FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><a name="_Hlk142570384">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction. <o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Bulgaria has been declared by the State
Department to be noncompliant with the Hague Abduction Convention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvkgIlbgwJaSz0xOlHmfduAP2WwzqKvVYkZ_PLgbU-aVaCbmx88Qbpit1df2YbK2s0CYB7s-27cjUtpXi9lEP6L8fAHmH15B5v-PKkTCcP7ndhsvv2s73TpC20ZscJtEHq5CMjzxmLBNCGaS719ueMIOawjrP4bjTfKjNWt8Frmo-6huZKIJW/s1659/BUL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1659" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvkgIlbgwJaSz0xOlHmfduAP2WwzqKvVYkZ_PLgbU-aVaCbmx88Qbpit1df2YbK2s0CYB7s-27cjUtpXi9lEP6L8fAHmH15B5v-PKkTCcP7ndhsvv2s73TpC20ZscJtEHq5CMjzxmLBNCGaS719ueMIOawjrP4bjTfKjNWt8Frmo-6huZKIJW/s320/BUL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Bulgaria:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials, in Washington, DC and at
the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, continued to raise concerns over Bulgaria’s pattern
of noncompliance with Government of Bulgaria officials. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In October 2022, Department officials from
Washington, DC and U.S. Embassy Sofia met with the Bulgarian Central Authority
and other Bulgarian stakeholders to discuss international parental child
abduction issues. The Bulgarian Central Authority reported on efforts to
resolve enforcement issues concerning Bulgarian court-ordered returns. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In November 2022, Department officials proposed
an International Visitor Leadership Program on international parental child
abduction. The purpose of this program was to conduct an informational exchange
between U.S. and Bulgarian officials who are responsible for implementing the
Convention. The program is scheduled to take place in July 2023. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, the Special Advisor for
Children’s Issues and U.S. Embassy Sofia met again with the Bulgarian Central
Authority and key stakeholders to 9 improve Bulgaria’s processing of IPCA
cases. Stakeholders included the Deputy Minister of Justice, President of the
Sofia City Court, and the Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Private
Enforcement Agents. The priorities of the meeting were highlighting enforcement
challenges in Convention cases, discussing current IPCA cases, and proposing
opportunities for continued engagement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Bulgaria as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. In May 2023, the Senior Consular
Representative at the U.S. Mission to the European Union informed the EU of
Bulgaria’s citation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, Consular staff at U.S. Embassy
Sofia delivered a demarche to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
notifying Bulgaria that the Department cited Bulgaria in the 2023 Annual Report
on International Child Abduction for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance
during 2022. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In June 2023, Department officials DC discussed
international parental child abduction at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington,
DC.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;">Jeremy D. Morley has provided
expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters concerning Bulgaria.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-42732116229973162802023-08-14T10:09:00.005-07:002023-08-14T10:09:45.236-07:00U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST BELIZE FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p> <a name="_Hlk142570384" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The U.S. State Department has now issued its 2023 Action
Report on International Child Abduction.</a></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Belize has been declared by the State
Department to be noncompliant with the Hague Abduction Convention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJa4YCwal-zCGAUhIbm5ira0xbcPN8_8fhA2-lfaWcp-z6plB1X1LA5D0a5ELmSbCyJ5xrh8qttkq7475LAw97yYiTgIErQ8pyybvECBVW25ACFo-nHhwy3CspkHXp3K0tYeGH0D-8Gc_haYOgxV-F3r7TzjClArqG8RGho_Z9D8jqaUJwv-PA/s800/Flag-Belize.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJa4YCwal-zCGAUhIbm5ira0xbcPN8_8fhA2-lfaWcp-z6plB1X1LA5D0a5ELmSbCyJ5xrh8qttkq7475LAw97yYiTgIErQ8pyybvECBVW25ACFo-nHhwy3CspkHXp3K0tYeGH0D-8Gc_haYOgxV-F3r7TzjClArqG8RGho_Z9D8jqaUJwv-PA/s320/Flag-Belize.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State Department has reported to
Congress that within the past year it has taken the following actions in this
regard against Belize:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials, in Washington, DC and at
the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, continued to raise concerns with the Government
of Belize about Belize’s demonstration of a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In December 2022, officials at the U.S. Embassy
in Belmopan met with the Director of the Belize Central Authority (BCA) to
discuss Belize’s pattern of noncompliance and its obligations under the
Convention, and proposed actions to improve Convention compliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in December 2022, officials at the U.S.
Embassy in Belmopan attended a BCA-organized training on the Convention for BCA
employees, local law enforcement, and child protective services.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the U.S. Ambassador to Belize met
with representatives from the Belizean judiciary, central authority, law
enforcement, and legal community who were selected for an International Visitor
Leadership Program (IVLP) focused on IPCA. The group discussed objectives for
the IVLP and laid the foundation for a follow-on seminar for Belizean IPCA
stakeholders who did not participate in the IVLP. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Belize as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Consular Chief at the U.S.
Embassy in Belmopan delivered a demarche to the Belizean Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Foreign Trade concerning Belize’s citation for demonstrating a
pattern of noncompliance in the 2023 Annual Report. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, Department officials met in
Washington, DC with 10 officials from the Belizean judiciary, central
authority, law enforcement, and legal community to share best practices for
implementing the Convention. This meeting was part of an IVLP sponsored by the
U.S. Embassy in Belmopan that focused on improving Belize’s compliance with the
Convention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">Jeremy D. Morley
has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters
concerning Belize.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-38059907428685774362023-08-10T10:44:00.003-07:002023-08-14T10:10:17.266-07:00U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST ARGENTINA FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p> </p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The U.S. State
Department has now issued its 2023 Action Report on International Child
Abduction. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0USre1wf7DHqMmG94kdRuzbBHRORDgWvc-CfrTDCz4UENIqt52hU96lDVPzYGpOt3_8PRrS6iQAPWRJqdKDumNUDHGioRx8mVDqZQ-iGT7lEmivYyx5OgYomiqhx9SZtCtekZihhTCQ1eh8zxc-q4Feq4YqTHA9ziHBsVpJ19vgXRnW78_9sU/s1920/arg.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1920" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0USre1wf7DHqMmG94kdRuzbBHRORDgWvc-CfrTDCz4UENIqt52hU96lDVPzYGpOt3_8PRrS6iQAPWRJqdKDumNUDHGioRx8mVDqZQ-iGT7lEmivYyx5OgYomiqhx9SZtCtekZihhTCQ1eh8zxc-q4Feq4YqTHA9ziHBsVpJ19vgXRnW78_9sU/s320/arg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Argentina has
been declared by the State Department to be noncompliant with the Hague Abduction
Convention for each and every year for the past eight years. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The State
Department has reported to Congress that within the past year it has taken the
following actions in this regard against Argentina:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials, in Washington, DC and at
the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, continued to raise concerns with Government
of Argentina officials about Argentina’s demonstration of a pattern of
noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In July 2022, the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina
raised U.S. concerns about Argentina’s demonstration of a pattern of
noncompliance with the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International
Trade, and Worship. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In August 2022, officials at the U.S. Embassy in
Buenos Aires met with the Director of the Argentine Central Authority to
discuss international parental child abduction issues. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In September 2022, the Consul General at the
U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires met with counterparts at the French Embassy in
Buenos Aires to discuss shared experiences with Argentina’s implementation of
the Convention, specifically significant delays within the Argentine judiciary.
This collaboration will allow the Department to target multilateral diplomacy
initiatives and identify like-minded countries to explore areas of
collaboration.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Argentina as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, the Deputy Chief of Mission at
U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires delivered a demarche to the Argentine Undersecretary
for Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade,
and Worship. The Deputy Chief of Mission notified the Government of Argentina
that the Department cited Argentina in the 2023 Annual Report on International
Child Abduction for demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance in 2022. This
demarche highlighted Argentina’s persistent failure to comply with its
Convention obligations. In particular, the demarche noted U.S. concerns with
serious judicial delays and a legal system that allows multiple appeals both on
the merits of the decision and on how decisions are enforced.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jeremy D. Morley
has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters
concerning Argentina.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-5248117319387250092023-08-09T09:20:00.002-07:002023-08-09T09:20:40.865-07:00U.S. ACTIONS AGAINST BRAZIL FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The U.S. State
Department has now issued its 2023 Action Report on International Child
Abduction. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Brazil has by
far the worst record of all of the countries in the world of having been
declared by the State Department to be noncompliant with the Hague Abduction
Convention for each and every year for the past seventeen years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdM0Ro5yoTQG6tK-iAlzd5uhJIcbWv9T1Shnl4d3Yr6ZFpWFp4rRunxbAo6QSMsJpdeZ5eDlhyyc-APg38nOcwCJ3CG-rL6pwTh1Cam3wLwsv3dGXBmr1OsbeHL3Nh9y7YRkkYN2sh4hUqgQvuYk8cnUzgveuhbEfyAr--L-cPr0AsnNNjZKf/s1200/1200px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1200" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdM0Ro5yoTQG6tK-iAlzd5uhJIcbWv9T1Shnl4d3Yr6ZFpWFp4rRunxbAo6QSMsJpdeZ5eDlhyyc-APg38nOcwCJ3CG-rL6pwTh1Cam3wLwsv3dGXBmr1OsbeHL3Nh9y7YRkkYN2sh4hUqgQvuYk8cnUzgveuhbEfyAr--L-cPr0AsnNNjZKf/s320/1200px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The State
Department has reported to Congress that within the past year it has taken the
following actions in this regard against Brazil:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Department officials, in Washington, DC and across
the U.S. Mission to Brazil, continued to raise concerns with Government of
Brazil officials about Brazil’s repeated demonstration of a pattern of
noncompliance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In August 2022, U.S. and Brazilian high-ranking
officials participated in the 20th Annual U.S.-Brazil Consular and Migration
Dialogue. In conversations with Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the U.S. delegation emphasized the
importance of Brazil’s compliance with the Convention and stressed that Brazil
should use the most expeditious procedures available to resolve cases of
international parental child abduction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In November 2022, the Consular Chief at the U.S.
Embassy in Brasilia met with the Director of the Brazilian Central Authority.
The Director had recently launched a public awareness campaign highlighting the
benefits of the Convention to the Brazilian public.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In March 2023, Department officials presented on
the role of central authorities and best practices for Convention
implementation at a conference attended by Brazil’s International Hague Network
Judges, key officials from the Brazilian Foreign and Justice Ministries, and
other judicial and private sector stakeholders. The conference also included
presentations from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, as
well as delegations from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Additionally, the Consular Chief at the U.S.
Embassy in Brasilia met with the new Director of the Brazilian Central
Authority to underscore the U.S. Mission to Brazil’s support role in assisting
Brazil to meet its Convention obligations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in March 2023, the Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Overseas Citizens Services and the Special Advisor for
Children’s Issues discussed IPCA and the need for the Brazilian judiciary to
expedite the processing of Convention cases with the Chief Justice of Brazil’s
Superior Court of Justice.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In April 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia’s
Consular Chief discussed the ongoing need for Brazilian-led efforts to expedite
Convention cases with the Chief of Staff of the incoming Chief Justice of
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In May 2023, the Office of the Spokesperson
released a media note to announce the release of the 2023 Annual Report on
International Child Abduction and listed Brazil as a country cited for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: .75in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Also in May 2023, the Minister Counselor for
Consular Affairs at the U.S. Mission to Brazil delivered a demarche to the
Secretary of Brazilian Communities and Consular and Legal Affairs within the
Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notifying Brazil that the Department
cited Brazil in the 2023 Annual Report on International Child Abduction for
demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance during 2022. This demarche expressed concern
about Brazil’s persistent failure to comply with its Convention obligations. In
particular, the demarche noted U.S. concerns with delays in Convention cases
within Brazil’s judiciary. The demarche also conveyed concerns with the ongoing
vacancies in the Brazilian Central Authority, which arose in late 2022 and
appeared to cause delays in case processing. The Minister Counselor for
Consular Affairs also met with Brazil’s Special Advisor on International
Affairs for the Minister of Justice and Public Security to discuss demarche
points and emphasize the importance of Convention compliance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Jeremy D. Morley
has provided expert evidence to courts in several U.S. states on such matters
concerning Brazil.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-63739096217321692652023-08-09T04:47:00.003-07:002023-08-09T04:47:10.917-07:00Chinese Divorce Law: A Major Development<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">by
Jeremy D. Morley</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.international-divorce.com/notes-on-laws-and-practices-of-china-3"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.international-divorce.com/notes-on-laws-and-practices-of-china-3</span></a><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
China, marital property is theoretically required to be divided equally between
the spouses upon a divorce. But without an enforceable obligation to make full
disclosure of assets, there has inevitably been a yawning gap between theory
and practice. Until recently, no such obligation to disclose assets existed in
China.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT9zf4D18eNFLKqNkZYiJaSlVtZMoewqbrbLh8rdc2T9w8-mVxEtNihSk92uKdteHqSnonBMkviML1AXLHXN7twQStlIl3Z8rKbe4LWDypEiAoEvyF0K2YvssddXzyaiegyPYz9azrFM7F7zPVqCwYH1IodpzcowsX3VBUR-EukeQZ8taQvEt/s255/Flag_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="255" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT9zf4D18eNFLKqNkZYiJaSlVtZMoewqbrbLh8rdc2T9w8-mVxEtNihSk92uKdteHqSnonBMkviML1AXLHXN7twQStlIl3Z8rKbe4LWDypEiAoEvyF0K2YvssddXzyaiegyPYz9azrFM7F7zPVqCwYH1IodpzcowsX3VBUR-EukeQZ8taQvEt/s1600/Flag_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China.svg.png" width="255" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Women’s Rights and
Interests, as amended in 2022 with effect from January 1, 2023, now provides
that during divorce proceedings both parties have an obligation to declare all
of their joint property. The statute provides further that a party who conceals,
transfer, sells, destroys, or squanders any such property may receive a reduced
share of the marital property upon a divorce or even no such share. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Effective
on January 1, 2023, the Hengyang County People’s Court issued specific rules
ordering divorcing spouses to truthfully declare their marital assets. Courts
in other provincial governments have since followed suit. How effective these
requirements will be remains to be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">These
developments are especially significant in light of the fact that “joint” or
“common” or “community” property has a very broad definition in Chinese law and
that the governing statute requires an equal division between the spouses,
regardless of considerations of fairness or respective contributions. The Civil
Code provides that it includes salaries, wages, bonuses, and other remuneration
for services rendered; proceeds from production, business operations, and
investment; proceeds of intellectual property rights; inherited assets and gifts;
and properties in joint names. The Code then provides that the following
classes of property are excluded from being common assets: a spouse’s
premarital assets, personal injury awards, property given in a will or “gift
contract”. and daily life articles used by one spouse, and “other property that
shall be owned by one spouse.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">These
new laws and court rules may explain why there has been a reportedly been a
significant uptick in high-net-worth divorce settlements in China, especially
affecting stockholders in major listed companies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
also means that there is now likely to be a significant increase in prenuptial
and postnuptial agreements entered into by Chinese and Chinese-connected
parties. It appears that such agreements are now needed more than ever.
However, for international clients they should be crafted by counsel with
significant experience in developing international prenuptial agreements for
various international jurisdictions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-64793169247793243282023-06-21T12:05:00.001-07:002023-06-21T12:05:15.757-07:00International Child Abduction and Non-Hague Convention Countries<p> <span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #0f1419; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Delighted to have authored the chapter on International Child Abduction and Non-Hague Convention Countries in the Research Handbook on International Child Abduction, edited by Marilyn Freeman and Nicola Taylor.</span></p><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/jzjp9IXoxW" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" role="link" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d9bf0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-hiw28u r-qvk6io r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">https://</span>lnkd.in/eTvvgYQU</a><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju03ydHd5zMwH52scqy-pKQ6tc3HVxAt8dPYoEeRZE8oC8blY0Lw2RB0PLHcJHMnYdJni7u5OnfAAFaWLk7-q58OdhPd1NFa8vXiDvHgpk5oSu9dJZE5zvg65X8OgAjNoSd7_dtXvykC81On1RGVizqro-lS7L9H3tX5C8XYZkmseyhpieHz6x/s305/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="200" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju03ydHd5zMwH52scqy-pKQ6tc3HVxAt8dPYoEeRZE8oC8blY0Lw2RB0PLHcJHMnYdJni7u5OnfAAFaWLk7-q58OdhPd1NFa8vXiDvHgpk5oSu9dJZE5zvg65X8OgAjNoSd7_dtXvykC81On1RGVizqro-lS7L9H3tX5C8XYZkmseyhpieHz6x/s1600/book.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-7685385819364438042023-05-08T09:22:00.001-07:002023-05-08T09:22:21.510-07:00UAE: Abu Dhabi Divorce for Non-Muslims<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">by
Jeremy D. Morley</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Abu Dhabi’s non-Muslim Personal Status
Law (Abu Dhabi Law No 14/2021) allows non-Muslims to obtain a divorce in the
Emirate by means of a civil procedure in a new court, the </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">under
a secular law that is separate from that which applies to UAE Muslim
families. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Abu Dhabi Executive Regulation No 8 of 2022 provides the
regulations pursuant to which the non-Muslim Personal Status Law applies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">Jurisdiction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">The Civil Family Court has jurisdiction as to
civil family matters that concern:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGByLZp6nhpK7aZOFLBHOtBwbmUl_QxTV2kOkXg-3w4LHsMahv_gIzJlPf_kP4XUc3s1XcmKkD2ULa9wX91dQgoEL8VA-Z5ouxPC59MgTZnsDhyunRMYyEwqOHmirL5pVfvE4aPnBJ2OM5c8VyHGVN926Jh6ZeupxXYTa8XwOYW1_MMy7w3g/s225/uae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGByLZp6nhpK7aZOFLBHOtBwbmUl_QxTV2kOkXg-3w4LHsMahv_gIzJlPf_kP4XUc3s1XcmKkD2ULa9wX91dQgoEL8VA-Z5ouxPC59MgTZnsDhyunRMYyEwqOHmirL5pVfvE4aPnBJ2OM5c8VyHGVN926Jh6ZeupxXYTa8XwOYW1_MMy7w3g/s1600/uae.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">1. Non-Muslim citizens of
the UAE. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">2. Foreigners who are
nationals of a country that does not apply the provisions of Islamic law mainly
in matters of personal status. If the foreigner has multiple nationalities, the
relevant nationality is the one that the person has used in the UAE. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">3. Marriages that were
conducted in a country that does not apply the provisions of Islamic law
primarily in matters of personal status. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">4. Marriages that were
concluded in accordance with the provisions of civil marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">Divorce<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If the Civil Family Court has jurisdiction,
either spouse may secure a divorce on a no-fault basis. The first hearing is
scheduled at least 30 days from the date of filing the application, and a
divorce may then be granted forthwith. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ligatures: none;">Lump-Sum Award<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Article 16 of Regulation 8 provides
that,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“At the discretion of
the court, the judge may compel either spouse to pay a lump sum to compensate
the other party after the divorce has occurred, taking into account the
following calculation criteria: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1. The total years of
marriage and the age of the spouses, so that the amount of compensation
increases with the increase in the number of years of marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2. The extent to which
the husband or wife contributed to the failure of the marital relationship
through neglect, fault, or the commission of any act that led to divorce, such
as infidelity or abandonment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">3. What the husband/wife
has suffered in terms of material or moral damage, and what she missed of
previous or subsequent profit, such as the forfeiture of the divorced woman’s
right to her husband’s inheritance or her sitting at home because of marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4. The economic,
financial and social status of each spouse according to an accounting expert
report. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5. Education level and
university degrees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">6. The extent to which
the wife sacrifices her work and future career to raise children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">7. In the event that the
husband stipulates that the wife not work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">8. The standard of
living to which the wife and children were accustomed during marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">9. The extent of the
wife's contribution to the husband's wealth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">10. The wife's health
conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">11. The wife's
functional status and her ability to work . <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">12. The physical
condition of the spouses at the time of the divorce. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">13. The wife’s wealth
and available sources of income according to an accounting expert report. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">14. The number of
children, their ages, and the extent to which they need care. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">15. The difference in
income between spouses and the financial dependence of one of them on the
other.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Temporary Support<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Once a divorce is granted, the Court
may award temporary support to the wife. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Final Support<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Court may also issue a final
support (maintenance) order in favor of a wife, after evaluating the same
factors that should be evaluated when considering a lump-sum award.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Housing </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Unless the court orders otherwise, the
father is obligated to pay housing support in kind or cash to his ex-wife for
the duration of the joint custody of the children. It should include basic
utility bills such as electricity, water, internet, gas, and air conditioning.
The new dwelling should be commensurate with the standard of living that the
children were accustomed to before the divorce. The court should also consider
the distance of the new dwelling from their old dwelling. The court may exempt
the father, in whole or in part, from paying the housing support if the
divorced mother has financial solvency that allows her to rent or own suitable
housing that meets the needs of the children. The assessment of financial
solvency is subject to the discretion of the judge, with reference to the
report of accounting expert. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Financial Expert<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The court may assign the task of
evaluating the financial status of the spouses to an English-proficient
accounting expert to assess the total financial value to which the wife or
husband is entitled after the divorce. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The court and the expert may be guided
by the following criteria for estimating and calculating the financial value
due after divorce: - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Percentage of monthly income: a cash percentage of no less
than (25%) of the husband’s last monthly income (according to the salary
certificate or the last account statement, whichever is greater) x number of
years of marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Percentage of the husband’s property and wealth: a
percentage (in kind or cash) of the market value or purchase value - whichever
is greater - of the husband’s property and wealth, including real estate and
financial investments such as shares and bonds, or interest in limited
liability companies or private joint stock and movables owned or registered in
the husband’s name such as valuables and means of transportation of all kinds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The joint money between the spouses and the extent of their
participation in it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The court has the discretion to decide
this amount according to the circumstances of the divorce. It may also increase
or decrease this amount and estimate the method of calculating it, paying it,
and paying it in instalments according to the results of the accounting expert
report on the assessment of the financial situation of the spouses in a way
that ensures a decent living for the divorced woman and children without
incurring financial costs beyond the father’s financial capabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Child Custody<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Custody of children is joint unless
the parties agree otherwise, until they are 16 years old, but the court may
order otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If the parents do not agree on how to
divide the joint custody between them, the court shall determine whether it
shall be divided on a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis, or in any other way
that takes into account the best interests of the child. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Either parent may request the removal
of the other party from joint custody, whether legal custody or physical
custody or both. After a hearing, the court shall initially decide what it
deems necessary and essential in the interest of the child, whether by
temporarily suspending joint custody pending a decision on the case, or by
assigning a social expert to evaluate the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The court shall order that a parent
shall forfeit custody, whether temporarily or permanently, if any of the
following cases are established:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1. The child is at risk
of being exposed to domestic violence or abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2. Inadequate living
conditions provided by the parent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">3. The child needs
particular health care that the parent cannot provide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4. Behavioral,
psychological or mental problems that the parent suffers from that may<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">harm the child or expose
the child to danger or neglect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5. Lack of time to take
care of the child or neglecting the child.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">6. The child’s desire,
provided that he reaches the age of 12.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">7. Abuse of drugs or
alcohol or any psychotropic substances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">8. Health reasons that
impede the parent from carrying out his duties towards caring and attention for
the child.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">9. Parent’s remarriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">10. Any other reasons
the court deems appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Upon cancelling joint custody, the
court has the discretion to apply what it deems appropriate from the rules of
justice and fairness or the best international practices of comparative legal
systems with regard to custody and visitation with the best interests of the
child taking precedence. The court shall expeditiously decide on the request
for intervention to settle the disputed joint custody matter and shall take what
it deems appropriate in the best interests of the child, taking into account
the stability of the child's academic and sports life after the separation of
the parents and not changing the child’s as lifestyle as much as possible as a
result of divorce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the case of joint custody, none of
the parents may travel with the child outside the country by a unilateral
decision without the written consent of the other party, or a court order
authorizing the travel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Either parent may submit a request to
the judge to compel the party applying for travel to provide sufficient
guarantees for the child's return to the country again according to the
specified date, and the request is subject to the judge's discretion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Either parent may submit a petition to
the court to ban the child from traveling for a temporary period by setting
forth specific objections to such travel of the child and an explanation of any
danger that requires banning the child from traveling. The application is
subject to the discretion of the court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-36423014430718408222023-05-05T08:23:00.000-07:002023-05-05T08:23:00.407-07:00KOREA CHILD ABDUCTION NONCOMPLIANCE<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Korea has again been found non-compliant by the United States Department of State as a result of the failure of the Korean authorities to enforce orders to return internationally abducted children.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
the 2023 Annual Report on International Child Abduction issued by the US State
Department, as required to be issued by the International Child Abduction
Prevention and Return Act of 2014, the State Department has found that:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMgPU5gq6qUV_gWQAji1BMFC4-m6fdoHJBiS6PGlryhoR21jg4GQdbG9aXJ5M4ZnAf8S0dxtVb1KJMeDTGuqJm9n9HNI0wgQ3oi1uE3X0nRUMU8cEETvg3sdg7-s4vXQWk6Xx3TDpDdAwfLhv_UbRrDcfNR-BoDOF1Q73UEi5gJRPo4lhTA/s800/JS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMgPU5gq6qUV_gWQAji1BMFC4-m6fdoHJBiS6PGlryhoR21jg4GQdbG9aXJ5M4ZnAf8S0dxtVb1KJMeDTGuqJm9n9HNI0wgQ3oi1uE3X0nRUMU8cEETvg3sdg7-s4vXQWk6Xx3TDpDdAwfLhv_UbRrDcfNR-BoDOF1Q73UEi5gJRPo4lhTA/s320/JS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Korean law enforcement authorities
regularly failed to enforce return orders in abduction cases. As a result of
this failure, 50% of requests for the return of abducted children under The [Hague
Abduction] Convention remained unresolved for more than 12 months."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
Korean Ministry of Justice has responded by conceding that it had failed to
enforce return orders because Korean regulations provide that such orders
cannot be enforced if the child is of a sufficient age and refuses to return. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One
such case concerns John Sichi, whose two children were abducted by his Korean
wife from San Francisco in 2019. The Supreme Court of Korea ordered the
children's return in accordance with the Hague Abduction Convention, but the
enforcement authorities in Korea have failed to secure their return.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-41320062425507603542023-05-02T13:05:00.001-07:002023-05-02T13:05:07.071-07:00MARRIAGE-LIKE RELATIONSHIPS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>by Jeremy D Morley</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
British Columbia, Canada, unmarried partners may be deemed to be in a “spousal
relationship” that entitles them to be treated as spouses for the purpose of
securing financial remedies upon the termination of the relationship as if they
were actually married. Section 3 of the Family Law Act of British Columbia
provides that such a relationship exists if it is a “marriage-like relationship,”
but it does not define the term. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">For
the purpose of being entitled to a division of assets or debt, the relationship
must have existed for two years. For spousal support, it can be less than two
years if the partners have a child.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
<i>A.J.L v. J.C., </i>2023 BCSC 664, the Supreme Court of British Columbia
analyzed the parties’ relationship in great detail to determine whether their
relationship had been “marriage-like.” The
claimant asserted that she and other party were together for eight years.
However, while they resided in the same home for a few months, they spent most of
the time in separate residences. The trial occupied 27 days, much of which was
devoted to what the court described as “laboriously reviewing electronic data
downloaded from the claimant’s phone so as to detail the parties’ interactions
on an almost daily basis.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
B.C. courts have frequently considered the meaning of the term “marriage-like
relationship,” but basically they merely conclude that any and all evidence
concerning the nature of the parties’ relationship can be considered and that
no one element is necessarily determinative. Indeed, they insist that a court “must
take a holistic approach,” recognizing that spousal relationships “are many and
varied.” <i>Austin v. Goerz</i>, 2007, BCCA 586.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
<i>A.J.L</i>, the court focused on the following facts: the parties had never
commingled their finances, had maintained separate residences, had identified
their separate residences as “home,” had never included the other in their
estate planning, had filed taxes separately, had mostly kept their possessions
in their separate residences, had rarely intermingled their families for joint
celebrations or vacations, and had not held themselves out as married to the
outside world. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
court held that the totality of such factors led to the conclusion that the
claimant had failed to establish that the parties were spouses at any time over
the entire eight-year period of their relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-43691595216187355092023-04-12T09:11:00.009-07:002023-04-12T09:13:30.465-07:00International Child Relocation: When is an Application Required?<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: center;"><b>by Jeremy D. Morley</b></span></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>If a parent wants to take
a child who is living in the United States to live in another country, is it
necessary for the parent to apply to court for permission to relocate? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxs" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; margin: 9pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>A.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--> <b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Consent</span></b></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%;">If the relocating parent has received the
other parent's consent to relocate, then there will generally be no problem,
provided:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxlp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 25pt;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>(a) The
consent is to relocation rather than to take the child for a mere visit; and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxlp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 25pt;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>(b) The
consent can be proven.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>Obviously, it is
infinitely better for the relocation consent to be in writing, since proving
oral permission may be difficult. It is also preferable for the writing to be
drafted or at least reviewed by counsel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNapi5ivDBZugkFRal3iFwXc3QuyRG98hJwi7L8p6KKLmFcSARwSzSvs9SlWSmmAB835cb6gS-18qd4ZzTPAW3dYYoOfCBSm-ovP5Hz2Y9iaPNOU4TPsWKB3Q0Lm0pTKxXrkdWROtPe5AzhQq9iz_eLtA-bN7ci0OGV4Uy4jpmN2uaGbLaQ/s527/abduction.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="527" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNapi5ivDBZugkFRal3iFwXc3QuyRG98hJwi7L8p6KKLmFcSARwSzSvs9SlWSmmAB835cb6gS-18qd4ZzTPAW3dYYoOfCBSm-ovP5Hz2Y9iaPNOU4TPsWKB3Q0Lm0pTKxXrkdWROtPe5AzhQq9iz_eLtA-bN7ci0OGV4Uy4jpmN2uaGbLaQ/s320/abduction.png" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>Another problem with
consent is that it might be withdrawn. If it is withdrawn before the child is
relocated, it will have little or no effect.<br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxs" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; margin: 9pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>B.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No Consent</span></b></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%;">If the other parent has not consented, it
is extremely dangerous, for a variety of reasons, for a parent to take a child
to live in another country unless:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxlp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 25pt;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>(a) The
other parent has no rights of either custody or of visitation, either because
of a court order to that effect or because the parties are unmarried and, under
the local state law, the other parent is a father as to whom the requisite
steps for paternity have not been taken; or<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxlp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 25pt;"> <span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>(b) The
relocation is expressly authorized by a valid court order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxs" style="margin-top: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The reasons for concern include:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>It may be criminal</b> under federal law. The
International Parental Kidnapping Act makes it an offense to remove or attempt
to remove a child who has been in the United States from the United States with
the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights. It includes the
retention out of the United States of a child who has been in the United
States.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The term “parental rights”<span class="pxvis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span>means
the right to physical custody of the child, whether joint or sole, and includes
visiting rights, whether arising by operation of law, court order, or legally
binding agreement of the parties. This means that even if one parent has sole
custody of a child while the other parent has nothing but limited rights of
access, it would normally be felonious for the custodial parent to relocate the
child to another country without either the other parent's consent or a court
order authorizing the relocation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> The crime is a felony punishable by up to
three years in jail or a fine. It is an affirmative defense that the defendant
acted within the provisions of a valid court order granting the defendant legal
custody or visitation rights and that order was obtained pursuant to the
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act the issuance of a
custody order prior to a parent taking a child out of the United States.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Anyone who “aids and
abets” the abduction might also be charged with the crime. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>It may be a crime under state law</b>. Every
state has a provision in its criminal law that bars parental kidnapping in one
form or another. Thus, New York's Penal Law provides that a parent is guilty of
custodial interference in the second degree when, intending to hold such child
permanently or for a protracted period, and knowing that he has no legal right
to do so, he takes or entices such child from his lawful custodian. It becomes first-degree
custodial interference if done with the intent to permanently remove the victim
from the State of New York.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>There might be extradition</b> from the
country to which the parent has gone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Once an arrest warrant has been issued, <b>an
Interpol Red Notice</b> may be issued requesting the provisional arrest of the
parent with a view to extradition based on an arrest warrant or court decision.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> Many states
require a parent who intends to relocate a child to give <b>prior notice --</b>ranging
in most but not all cases from 30 to 90 days of the intended move if the
non-residential parent does not consent. Once a parent objects, a hearing on
the issue of relocation must be held before the relocation may occur. Violation
of the statute will lead to sanctions imposed by the courts of the state from
which the child is taken.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> The
child's home state will continue to have <b>exclusive custody jurisdiction</b>
for at least the six months subsequent to the relocation. If a custody case is
commenced in the home state during that period, the courts of that state will
normally have continuing exclusive jurisdiction thereafter. This means that the
left-behind parent can ask for and will presumably obtain an emergency order
directing the taking parent to return the child to the state, and perhaps to
the custody of the other parent, forthwith. If such an order is violated the
taking parent could be held in contempt of court.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> If the
other country is a treaty partner with the United States under the <b>Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction</b>, the
left-behind parent can petition for the child's return in accordance with the
provisions of that treaty. That will usually lead to an expedited hearing in
the appropriate court in the country to which the child has been taken,
followed by an order directing the child's immediate return to the United
States, unless one of the extremely narrow and limited defenses can be proven.
Once the child is returned to the United States, the U.S. court is likely to
bar any further international travel by the parent who has been found to be an
international child abductor. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> In some
countries, the left-behind parent can petition the foreign courts to <b>enforce
a U.S. custody order</b>, either through a registration system similar to the
UCCJEA or through a general child custody case.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 45pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--> There are
<b>other actions</b> that a left-behind parent can take, such as bringing a
civil lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-58293159000254273172023-03-17T13:30:00.003-07:002023-03-17T13:30:27.650-07:00Algeria and International Child Abduction<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Jeremy
D. Morley</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My expert evidence on the
international family law aspects of the laws and procedures of Algeria has
resulted in a highly favorable settlement for a parent who feared that the
parties’ children might be taken out of the United States to Algeria. I
explained that. in my opinion. if the other parent were to take the children to
Algeria and keep them there, then,
notwithstanding the issuance of orders requiring the return of the children by
the U.S. courts, it would be exceedingly difficult and probably impossible for
the left-behind parent to secure the children’ s return home to the United
States. I explained in detail the likely outcome of potential litigation in
Algeria, and discussed the potential measures to prevent abduction out of the
United States. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb006QLqnHrghDIzAq0OFgIo_kHDi3huvy53kik9AuceKTfQNQvQEkFy6I_IQAljv7O7_pXbt1eGdg4kH8yTs1p_aA9t9Tw9ppkfVl_biCb40W13wo7kGIr7rTo9aZDaKIK9TmYCcu7YouYzGLAvquw4kmTrO7lza6HhjWFD9UsWSY1W6n6Q/s275/alg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb006QLqnHrghDIzAq0OFgIo_kHDi3huvy53kik9AuceKTfQNQvQEkFy6I_IQAljv7O7_pXbt1eGdg4kH8yTs1p_aA9t9Tw9ppkfVl_biCb40W13wo7kGIr7rTo9aZDaKIK9TmYCcu7YouYzGLAvquw4kmTrO7lza6HhjWFD9UsWSY1W6n6Q/s1600/alg.png" width="275" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In my opinion, when the
country in question is a well- recognized safe haven for international child
abduction, far less evidence that any specific parent is a potential
international child abductor should be
required in order to justify –
and indeed to require – that a
court should take effective steps to prevent a potential child abduction than
if the country in question is a compliant party to the Hague Abduction Convention.
However, without expert evidence, there is no way for a court in the United
States to make the necessary findings concerning the laws and practices of the
foreign jurisdiction. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-30498790951191152022023-03-13T12:15:00.003-07:002023-03-13T12:15:48.861-07:00Preventing International Child Abduction: The U.S. National Targeting Center<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;">by Jeremy D. Morley</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">www.international-divorce.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
National Targeting Center in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
provides invaluable assistance in identifying parents and children about to
leave the country in violation of U.S. court orders, provided the process is
properly initiated.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3ub9rDaV_QCFqSZvPOwwIBag5D__fL-5f2vOAIbrp7C4YSqI1_8gPBQK-w8hLyXDBInbh5n8myJgnJ_Uu47ZpRF1O0EoM448G6_Dl_uQgvXRxHaNrkbKgdITc_3rFxCvsqEhN2wifMrZb-e9XA1JdoPT1sXPEIC5z5-4SmBKjOftd0Dm9A/s527/abduction.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="527" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3ub9rDaV_QCFqSZvPOwwIBag5D__fL-5f2vOAIbrp7C4YSqI1_8gPBQK-w8hLyXDBInbh5n8myJgnJ_Uu47ZpRF1O0EoM448G6_Dl_uQgvXRxHaNrkbKgdITc_3rFxCvsqEhN2wifMrZb-e9XA1JdoPT1sXPEIC5z5-4SmBKjOftd0Dm9A/s320/abduction.png" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Any
parent who has obtained a valid and enforceable order from any court in the
United States that bars the other parent or another specified person from
removing the child from the United States can ask the Abduction Prevention Unit
of the Office of Children's Issues of the U.S. State Department to place the
identified parent (or other prohibited person) and the child on the prevent
departure list maintained by the Office. The Office will need the actual court order
and other identifying information, including dates of birth, and it will then
coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Custom and Border
Prevention (the “CBP.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
National Targeting Center (the “NTC”) is the unit of the CBP which analyzes
traveler data and threat information to identify high-risk travelers before they
board US-bound flights. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">CBP
creates travel alerts for identified and listed children who are at risk of international
abduction and any potential abductors. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Commercial carriers are required to transmit data on all outgoing and
incoming travelers to CBP, which t</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">he NTC continuously
monitors in real-time through </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">an electronic
data interchange system known as the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Advance Passenger
Information System (APIS), and it vets that information against the travel
alerts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It then works with CBP officers and with
local law enforcement to intercept the child before departure and to enforce
the applicable valid court orders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Counsel
who are retained by parents to take measures to prevent their children from
being abducted from the United States should normally use their best efforts to
obtain enforceable and comprehensive court orders to prevent any such abduction.
That will generally require counsel to consult with, and then to present
evidence from, experts knowledgeable as to (a) the extent to which the specific
country to which the child may be abducted is or is not likely to expeditiously
return an internationally-abducted child, and (b) the risk factors of potential
international child abduction. Once a court order is obtained, it is then
incumbent on counsel to present the order and other required information to the
State Department and to secure the requisite information concerning the child
and the potential abductors to be included in the Prevent Abduction Program
list so that a travel alert is promptly issued by the CBP. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Note,
however, that such a listing is only one of the methods that should be employed
in any effort to prevent international child abduction. The United States has
no exit controls, and travel by public carrier is only one way for a child to
be taken out of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-75183735765796608462023-02-13T06:47:00.002-08:002023-02-13T06:47:48.142-08:00RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN COUNTRY DIVORCE DECREES: AN IMPORTANT NEW CASE<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: center;">Jeremy D. Morley</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">www.international-divorce.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">The rule that
a foreign country divorce decree will not be recognized unless at least one
spouse was domiciled (or possibly resident) in the foreign country applies in
most states even if the parties both appeared in the foreign proceeding. <i>See</i>
Jeremy D. Morley, <i>International Family Law Practice,</i> Sec. 5.11 (2020
edition).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="pxp" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">New York has long
followed its own path on this issue. The New York courts have consistently
ruled that foreign divorces are valid and should generally be recognized if at
least one party appeared in person in the foreign court or was otherwise
significantly connected to the foreign country and the other party had notice
of and the opportunity to participate in the foreign proceeding, so long as the
petitioning spouse satisfies the jurisdictional <span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">&rdquo;</span>requirements of the foreign nation granting the
divorce. <!--[if supportFields]><span class=pxcc><i><span style='mso-element:
field-begin'></span>cc.ref.id="I04HYCH"</i></span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
class=pxcc><i><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></i></span><![endif]--><span class="pxcc"><i>Rosenstiel v. Rosenstiel,</i> 16 N.Y.2d 64, 262 N.Y.S.2d 86, 209
N.E.2d 709, 13 A.L.R.3d 1401 (1965)</span>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDau-xDm_JV0k0xpv9KDjw-HASq7lrzHnoPRQyqejsXDEkuihBfVOynt19Hb1vUgRGjSrf7lMO_X70j2p_aJEx7-TEDlxYCYPentTfQYS9AsIciaNCmeENzbQqG2bGSKINALtwa9wFPj2HwHcIj-X7NUS6A6dGDwBWHSj1Vcdef4JI9NNJg/s900/divorce_papers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDau-xDm_JV0k0xpv9KDjw-HASq7lrzHnoPRQyqejsXDEkuihBfVOynt19Hb1vUgRGjSrf7lMO_X70j2p_aJEx7-TEDlxYCYPentTfQYS9AsIciaNCmeENzbQqG2bGSKINALtwa9wFPj2HwHcIj-X7NUS6A6dGDwBWHSj1Vcdef4JI9NNJg/s320/divorce_papers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">But now, the
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a divorce obtained in a foreign
nation by its own citizens is not invalid in Virginia simply because these
citizens were not domiciled in their home country at the time of the divorce.
It has ruled that their citizenship in that country provides an adequate
relationship between person and place to justify the foreign nation's exercise
of control over their marital status. <i>Adjei v. Mayorkas</i>,<i> </i>---
F.4th ----,2023 WL 1787879 (4<sup>th</sup> Cir. 2023).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">The Court
recited the long-standing principle that Virginia will grant comity to an act
of another sovereign only if (1) the other sovereign had jurisdiction to
enforce its order within its own judicatory domain, (2) the relevant law of the
other sovereign is reasonably comparable to that of Virginia, (3) the decree
was not obtained through fraud, and (4) enforcement of the other sovereign's
decree would not be contrary to the public policy of Virginia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">In the pending
case, the USCIS had denied an application for U.S. naturalization on the ground
that the petitioner’s purported marriage to a U.S. citizen was invalid since
his intended wife’s prior Ghanaian divorce would not be recognized in Virginia
because, although the parties to that divorce decree were citizens of Ghana,
they were each domiciled in the United States, not Ghana, at the time of the
Ghanaian divorce decree. The lower court held that the petitioner's wife's
divorce was not entitled to comity as neither spouse was domiciled in Ghana at
the time of the divorce.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">The Fourth
Circuit disagreed. It held that, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 45.0pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">“Citizenship in a nation, like
domicile in a state, “implies a nexus between person and place of such
permanence as to control the creation of legal relations.” <em><span style="font-family: "Times NewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Williams v. State of N.C.</span></em> (<em><span style="font-family: "Times NewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Williams II</span></em>), 325 U.S. 226, 229, 65
S.Ct. 1092, 89 L.Ed. 1577 (1945); <em><span style="font-family: "Times NewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">see also</span></em> <em><span style="font-family: "Times NewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Evans</span></em>, 72 S.E.2d at 324. Thus, the
citizenship of both parties in a nation provides that nation with a
jurisdictional basis for granting the parties a divorce that seems “reasonably
comparable” to the relationship between a state and its domiciliaries. For
these reasons, we believe that, if faced with the question, the Supreme Court
of Virginia would consider Boateng and Gyasi's citizenship in Ghana, the nation
in which the divorce was granted, to be an acceptable alternative to domicile.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">In analyzing
the issue of Virginia’s public policy, the Circuit court stated that it did not
follow that Virginia would refuse to recognize, as a matter of comity, a
divorce issued by a foreign nation simply because Virginia itself would not
grant a divorce under similar circumstances. This was especially true
where, as in the case at bar, the basis for the foreign nation's jurisdiction
to grant the divorce was the divorcing parties' citizenship in that nation, a
basis that “has no independent analogue in the domestic context.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">Although
Virginia could, as some states such as Nevada do, expressly forbid the
recognition of all out-of-state divorces where both spouses are domiciled in
the state where recognition is sought, Virginia law does not so provide.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court of Virginia had repeatedly recognized that the
public policy of Virginia favors recognizing divorces whenever possible, so
that one's marital status does not change with one's location. And where,
as here, the divorce is followed by a subsequent marriage, the Commonwealth's
interest in uniformity in marital status is reinforced by an even more
foundational aspect of its public policy: “uphold[ing] the validity of the
marriage status as for the best interest of society.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">The Court
stated that the importance of recognizing out-of-state divorces has only
increased with advances in transportation, citing New York’s Rosenstiel case,
and the fact that the world has become even smaller and more mobile since then.
It concluded that, “Given these precedents, we believe when, absent any fraud,
a couple has married relying on a consensual divorce granted by a foreign
nation to its citizens and in accordance with its laws, Virginia public policy
would favor recognition of the divorce upon which the second marriage's
legitimacy depends.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">To what extent
the Fourth Circuit’s reasoned decision will apply in other states and in other
circumstances remains to be seen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-62157492152096272702023-02-10T14:00:00.006-08:002023-02-10T14:00:38.112-08:00ABDUCTION PREVENTION MEASURES: FAILURE TO ADOPT HAGUE CONVENTION INSUFFICIENT BASIS TO REQUIRE <p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">by
Jeremy D. Morley</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.international-divorce.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A Colorado appeal court has remanded a
case in which a trial court imposed measures intended to deter possible international
child abduction to the U.A.E. because the lower court ruling was almost exclusively
based on the mere fact that the U.A.E. has not adopted the Hague Convention on
the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. <i>In re Marriage of
Badawiyeh, </i>2023 WL 163958 (Colo. Ct. Apps. 2023).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3D61GBSrshXq6QD0ShRq_06UxabQrtxD1MPAXNAtov_ob3Hk0zm5TEePXMp2emj8auyMtC1K2_luXXkouxfG5tWJX1DB_dne1ZaIS-GZ1PxMQEVxzALawal88T6DYdS0iRob5sKN7RWa_YpzzGbc4isGpR8krf8sLX7yVvrb0h1U8a-IMQ/s662/9781634255707_1_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="662" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3D61GBSrshXq6QD0ShRq_06UxabQrtxD1MPAXNAtov_ob3Hk0zm5TEePXMp2emj8auyMtC1K2_luXXkouxfG5tWJX1DB_dne1ZaIS-GZ1PxMQEVxzALawal88T6DYdS0iRob5sKN7RWa_YpzzGbc4isGpR8krf8sLX7yVvrb0h1U8a-IMQ/w640-h290/9781634255707_1_cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Colorado
is one of the small number of states that have adopted the Uniform Child Abduction
Prevention Act (“UCAPA”). UCAPA authorizes a court to order “abduction
prevention measures” if the court on its own motion “finds that the evidence
establishes a credible risk for abduction of the child” or if the party seeking
an order specifies the “risk factors for abduction”. Section 7 of UCAPA
contains a list of the potential risk factors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
the case at bar, the trial court allowed the father to take the parties'
children to visit the U.A.E. but subject to certain quite minor conditions in
the form of a need to post a $50,000 travel bond and a provision that a third
party should hold the children's passports until they needed for the authorized
travel. The court justified its decision to impose the conditions by citing that
the facts that the U.A.E. was not a signatory to the Hague Convention and that
a case in the U.A.E. to seek to remove
the children would likely be expensive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
father appealed and the appeal court ruled that UCAPA required the court to
make a specific finding based on a review of all the risk factors that the
traveling parent posed a credible risk of abducting the children before it
could impose any abduction prevention measures. It further held that the mere
fact, standing alone, that a country had not acceded to the Hague Convention was
an insufficient risk factor. It held that,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“We agree with these other
jurisdictions and decline to adopt a bright-line rule or singular test
permitting the imposition of abduction prevention measures simply because a
parent intends to travel with a child to a country that is not a signatory of
the Hague Convention.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
primarily cited a New Jersey case, <i>Abouzahr v. Matera-Abouzahr</i>, 361 N.J.
Super. 135, 824 A.2d 268, 281-82 (2003in which the court had accepted, as
genuine, the mother's fear that the father would abduct the child and flee to
Lebanon, but concluded that “fear alone is not enough to deprive a
non-custodial parent of previously agreed upon visitation.” It expressly
refused to adopt a bright-line rule prohibiting out-of-country visitation by a
parent whose country has not adopted the Hague Convention or executed an
extradition treaty with the United States, since “such an inflexible rule would
unnecessarily penalize a law-abiding parent and could conflict with a child's
best interests by depriving the child of an opportunity to experience and share
family heritage with that parent.” It also warned that to focus solely on the
conflict between the parent's native country's laws, policies, religion, or
values and our own would border on “xenophobia, a long word with a long and
sinister past. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
Colorado decision underscores the need for parents who seek to prevent their
children from being taken overseas because of a genuine and well-founded fear
of abduction to provide the court with clear evidence of the risk factors presented
by the potential abductor and of the challenges presented by the foreign country’s
legal system. Such factors should normally be supported by expert evidence.
Likewise, it is essential to provide the court with admissible evidence
concerning the appropriate measures that are required to significantly deter
any potential abduction. For example, in my experience, conditioning travel on
filing a bond is generally pointless because children are obviously priceless. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-54227135345803394552022-12-12T11:23:00.004-08:002022-12-12T11:23:22.007-08:00 CONNECTICUT COURT REFUSES TO ENFORCE UAE CUSTODY ORDER<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">by
Jeremy D. Morley<a href="file:///C:/Users/stute/Downloads/CONNECTICUT%20COURT%20REFUSES%20TO%20ENFORCE%20UAE%20CUSTODY%20ORDER.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
Connecticut court has refused to enforce a custody order of the United Arab
Emirates on the ground that the order is repugnant to Connecticut public policy.
The UAE court awarded custody of two children to their father because they and
the father are Muslim while the mother is Christian. <i>Al Namani v. Watson</i>,
Superior Court, Hartford, Connecticut, May 31, 2022 (unreported)<a href="file:///C:/Users/stute/Downloads/CONNECTICUT%20COURT%20REFUSES%20TO%20ENFORCE%20UAE%20CUSTODY%20ORDER.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Specifically,
the UAE court summarized the reasons for its decision as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 1.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“As
per the documents and papers, daughter … is 11 years old and son … is 9 years old. The
plaintiff is still Christian as per the statement of claim. The Personal Status
Law stipulates that the custodial patent’s [sic] religion shall be the same as
the child's religion and her custody shall be until the child becomes five years
old whether a male or female. Accordingly, the court cancels her right of child
custody of [the children], the father shall be the custodial parent and all alimony
and child support shall be cancelled effective from the date of granting him
the custody.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After
judgment was issued, the mother removed the children from the UAE without their
father’s consent and brought them to her family home in Connecticut. The father
then sought to register and enforce the UAE order in Connecticut pursuant to
Connecticut's version of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement
Act (the “UCCJEA”), Connecticut General Statutes, §46b-115 <i>et seq. </i>He
argued that, because the children had been living in the UAE for more than six
months immediately preceding the commencement of a case in that country for
divorce and then a case for custody, the UAE was the children’s home state. He
further argued that the UAE courts had continuing and exclusive child custody jurisdiction,
since he continued to live there. Accordingly, he asserted that the UCCJEA
required the Connecticut courts to register and enforce the UAE custody order,
and that they had no right to modify it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
mother opposed registration pursuant to General Statutes, §46b-115ii. That
section provides that a court in Connecticut must treat a foreign child custody
determination “as a child custody determination of another state … unless such
determination was rendered under child custody law which violates fundamental
principles of human rights or unless such determination is repugnant to the
public policy of this state.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Significantly,
Connecticut's statutory provision is unique to that state, despite the fact
that Connecticut generally adopted the standard version of the UCCJEA that was
promulgated by the Uniform Law Commissioners. That version provides that, “A
court of this State need not apply this [Act] if the child custody law of a
foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.” When it
adopted the Act, Connecticut chose to expand the so-called “escape clause” by
adding a second and distinct basis for a refusal, which is that of repugnance
to state public policy of enforcing a foreign custody order. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
his ruling, Judge Daniel J. Klau determined the public policy of
Connecticut concerning child custody matters by reviewing the Connecticut statutes
and case law on that issue. He cited the statutory provisions (General Statutes
§46b-56(b) and (c), which require the application of the “best interests of the
child” and extensive caselaw establishing “the clearly defined public policy of
our state that family courts must make child custody determinations according
to the best interests of the child.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
judge then reviewed the UAE custody order and ruled that it was repugnant to
Connecticut public policy because it expressly stated that its decision was
based on the mother’s status as a Christian, whereas the father and the
children were Muslims,. The fact that the UAE child custody statute contained a
provision which mentioned the best interests of the child was not significant
because the judgment, as written, was based solely on religion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
father’s claim that the mother waved the public policy argument by having
initiated a divorce case in the UAE several years prior was held to be unpersuasive
because any such waiver by a litigant would not and could not bind the state
court, which is “entitled, nay obligated to resist the invitation to become the
instrument by which party seeks to enforce a judgment that is repugnant to
public policy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In
several cases in other states that do not have a public policy exception in their
state statutes, courts have nonetheless relied on public policy to preclude
recognition of foreign country custody rules. Merely by way of example, <i>see:</i>
<i>In re Marriage of Donboli</i>, 128 Wash. App. 1039 (2005) (barring
recognition of Iranian order that did not consider child's best interest). <i>J.A.
v. A.T</i>., 404 N.J. Super. 132, 960 A.2d 795 (App. Div. 2008) (barring
recognition of a Greek order that did not properly consider child's best
interest); and <i>H.L.K. v. F.A.A., </i>2015 WL 5971123 (Pa. Super. Ct., 2015)
(Saudi order based on age, gender, and religion was inherently violative of
Pennsylvania public law). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">For
more on this issue, see </span><a href="https://store.legal.thomsonreuters.com/law-products/Treatises/International-Family-Law-Practice-2020-ed/p/106660958"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jeremy
D. Morley, <i>International Family Law Practice</i>, § 7.28</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
Connecticut case is also significant for its analysis of the meaning of the
“escape clause” provision that a foreign country order must be enforced “unless such determination was rendered under
child custody law which violates fundamental principles of human rights.” Other
courts have held that that language limits a court to analyzing the foreign law
as it is written, rather than the law as it is applied in the foreign country,
even if the law reads well but is applied in a manner violative of fundamental
human rights. That position is supported by the official comment to the
relevant section of the UCCJEA, which states that “the court's scrutiny should
be on the child custody law of the foreign country and not on other aspects of
the other legal system.” Indeed, in <i>Matter of Yaman</i>, 105 A.3d 600,
611 (N.H. 2014), the Supreme Court of New Hampshire held that “[t]he comments
to the UCCJEA . . . clarify that the analysis is meant to focus on the foreign
jurisdiction's substantive law, and not its legal system or how the law is
implemented.” 105 A.3d at 611.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">However,
Judge Klau disagreed. He cited with approval the case of <i>Coulibaly v.
Stevance</i>, 85 N.E.3d 911 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). There, the Indiana Court of
Appeals had insisted that, “we do not believe that the UCCJEA limits the courts
of this state to considering the foreign jurisdiction's law only on its face,
without regard to whether that law was applied in a manner violative of
fundamental human rights. One can imagine multiple circumstances in which a
foreign jurisdiction's custody law is unobjectionable as written, but applied
in a manner that clearly violates a parent's or child's fundamental human
rights.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Judge
Klau concurred with <i>Coulibaly</i> since, “to hold otherwise would make the
court a party to the enforcement of a judgment which, on its face, violates
public policy or fundamental human rights.”<span style="background: white;"> Judge Klau then supported that argument with an
appropriate caution. He sensibly opined that courts should “be reticent to make
broad judgment about whether a foreign country’s laws violate fundamental
principles of human rights or are repugnant to the public policy of the court’s
state. It is one thing for a state court to opine on a particular judgment of a
foreign court. It is another thing entirely for a state court to opine on a
foreign country’s system of law in general.”</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In conclusion, the </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Al
Namani v. Watson </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">case demonstrates a sensible application
of the use of public policy and common sense to prevent the otherwise-automatic
obligation to enforce most foreign country custody orders issued by a home
state court that are based on norms that offend human rights or the standards
of the forum state. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/stute/Downloads/CONNECTICUT%20COURT%20REFUSES%20TO%20ENFORCE%20UAE%20CUSTODY%20ORDER.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Mr. Morley is a New York lawyer who concentrates on international family law
and consults with attorneys and clients globally on international family law
matters, always with local counsel as appropriate and necessary. He may be
reached at ww.interational-divorce.com<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/stute/Downloads/CONNECTICUT%20COURT%20REFUSES%20TO%20ENFORCE%20UAE%20CUSTODY%20ORDER.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> The
author provided substantial assistance on the case to defendant’s counsel, Dara
P. Goings of West Hartford, Connecticut.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-87298409380612265452022-12-07T10:32:00.006-08:002022-12-07T10:32:59.299-08:00KOREAN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Korea
has been cited by the U.S. State Department as “noncompliant” with its obligations
under the Hague Abduction Convention, and the U.S. Special Advisor for Children’s
Issues in the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs met with Korea's
Ministry of Justice today, December 7, 2022, to address the problem.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk6dldW8-g9jBRjlr62XYLy770IfW1Cko0XBCSSzDE3rsioUgCiNkxpVMe5k0ze3lwGNsXzc747U5JwfjyvPuXRzWiXp-WseFg4j7yjQHYMsszYhLSmSe2HB7vuvyeE5UltN_9cbh1M-aIWWJounJWZ8i8CNpyQOjPGPfEtZf9r4JhMRsZQ/s388/South-Korea-Flags_274_F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="388" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk6dldW8-g9jBRjlr62XYLy770IfW1Cko0XBCSSzDE3rsioUgCiNkxpVMe5k0ze3lwGNsXzc747U5JwfjyvPuXRzWiXp-WseFg4j7yjQHYMsszYhLSmSe2HB7vuvyeE5UltN_9cbh1M-aIWWJounJWZ8i8CNpyQOjPGPfEtZf9r4JhMRsZQ/s320/South-Korea-Flags_274_F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
July 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul delivered a diplomatic protest known as a “demarche”
to Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister, citing Korea’s failure to comply with its treaty
obligations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
specific cited problem is that 50% of U.S. requests for the return of children abducted
from the U.S. remained unresolved for more than 12 months. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
likely unanticipated consequence of Korea’s failure to comply with the Hague Convention
is that it will make it significantly more difficult for a Korean parent living
in the United States (or, presumably, in any other country) to take a child to
visit family in Korea if the non-traveling parent objects. If such issues are
brought before a court in the United States, a judge who is presented with
expert evidence concerning the difficulties of securing the return of children
from Korea will necessarily be most concerned that the child will be retained
in Korea and that it will be difficult or impossible to secure the child’s
return.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">____________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jeremy Morley has
provided expert evidence on such issues concerning Korea to courts in the
United States.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111760.post-12173335598405332282022-11-18T14:10:00.004-08:002022-11-18T14:11:08.987-08:00CHINA, INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION, AND EXPERT TESTIMONY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjircvqB6I58oVO6i9KTAq7-UDtArxpBilMK9E1CVHy3HeTN6JK9LX6T5_rtxVAqQ82LHV-Wsy8Ay1pFcJVYxTWolcSzsbxOUtIFNse1Vud7uQ-T6vZxKwcqnhbcOizYVo0aaIOoUx_YbZWc6RkB9UnzS2cqEEVVZaiGHLBbbncjr0MGi2pvg/s388/China-Official-Government-Flags_190_F.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="388" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjircvqB6I58oVO6i9KTAq7-UDtArxpBilMK9E1CVHy3HeTN6JK9LX6T5_rtxVAqQ82LHV-Wsy8Ay1pFcJVYxTWolcSzsbxOUtIFNse1Vud7uQ-T6vZxKwcqnhbcOizYVo0aaIOoUx_YbZWc6RkB9UnzS2cqEEVVZaiGHLBbbncjr0MGi2pvg/w200-h134/China-Official-Government-Flags_190_F.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">China is a safe haven for international child abduction. I submitted a very detailed expert report to that effect and then testified remotely as an expert witness in a court in the U.S. today.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The other side conceded this essential fact.</span></p>Jeremy Morleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08379323460363398318noreply@blogger.com