Preventing parental international child abduction. During the 2013 calendar year, 702 new cases of outgoing and 364 cases of incoming international child abduction were reported to the U.S. Central Authority. Of those cases, the chances of a second abduction are approximately 86 per cent. Most of those second abductions could have been prevented. With the proper knowledge, parents can recognize warning signs of abduction.

Preventing Parental International Child Abduction

One of the ways to prevent international child abduction is the application of strict requirements regarding the issuance and renewal of passports. Currently, the United States does not require exit controls on its borders. Most major air carriers, however, demand the presentation of a valid passport before boarding an aircraft bound for another country. Thus, it is imperative that passports are not issued to children without parental consent. In most cases, if a child already has a passport, it can be very hard to keep a parent from taking the child away from the United States without the other parent’s permission.

Don’t Sign For Your Child’s Passport

Preventing parental international child abduction could be as easy as not signing for your child’s passport.

Abduction Border Exit Controls

United States law requires either parents or legal guardians to sign passport applications for children under sixteen. The parents or legal guardians must provide documentation showing they are parents or guardians. If this requirement is not met, the person applying for the child’s passport must provide documentation that they are the sole parent or guardian of the child.

Technique To Prevent International Child Abduction

Another technique to prevent international child abduction is for parents to be alerted before their child’s passport is issued or renewed. One of the Central Authority’s most valuable mechanisms for preventing international child abduction is the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program, or CPIAP. If an application for a passport is turned in for a minor child enrolled in CPIAP, the Department of State will alert the child’s parents or guardians to ask whether or not the parents approve the issuing of the child’s passport.

The CPIAP Program

The CPIAP program only applies to passports issued in the United States. As mentioned earlier, the United States does not employ exit controls. Law enforcement will usually act only if a court order exists to prohibit the minor child leaving the United States. Parents should also be diligent in maintaining current address information with the U.S. Department of State. If parents or children have moved, and the Department of State has not been notified, a passport may be issued to the minor child without parental notice or consent. Passport revocations in these cases are rare.

Abduction is Likely to Recur

Most of the research of child abduction suggests that abduction is likely to recur. Once a person abducts a child and gets away with it, the abductor feels empowered and recidivism is likely. If a child has been previously abducted and returned to his or her family, a parent or guardian can get a restraining order that prevents the other parent or guardian to leave a designated area with the child, without consent. The child’s passport and other records can be amended, in such a way that both parents and guardians must approve of releasing access to the records.

Prevention is Key For Your Child

With all the sensationalism in the media regarding international child abduction, parents may be unduly concerned. Abduction only comprises two percent of all violent crimes against minors. With continued knowledge and proper legislation, parents can be empowered and educated in how to act.