U.S. Department of State

04/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2024 07:00

Release of the 2024 Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction

The Department of State recently submitted to Congress its 2024 Annual Report on International Child Abduction. We are committed to protecting the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens overseas, especially our most vulnerable citizens - children.

The Department leads U.S. government efforts to prevent international parental child abduction, help children and families involved in abduction cases, and promote the Hague Abduction Convention.

The Hague Abduction Convention is the most effective tool to deter and resolve international parental child abductions and secure the prompt return of abducted children. The Department engages with foreign governments to encourage them to join the Convention and to fulfill their treaty obligations. Unfortunately, there are countries that have not joined the Convention and others that fail to live up to their commitments.

The 2024 Annual Report on International Child Abduction cites 16 countries as demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, India, Jordan, Montenegro, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.

For more information, please see the full Report, available on our website.