Preventing International custody disputes and reducing their devastating impact on children
Our vision is of a world where few families go through international custody crisis but when it does happen they have all the support they need.
Many families move abroad and think that if it doesn’t work out they can simply move back again. However, if one parent wants the child to stay the other must get permission from the local court to allow the child to leave. This application is called Relocation or Leave to Remove. The process can be costly and take many years. If they don’t get the proper permissions and ‘take’ their child they can be accused of International Child Abduction under The Hague Convention. Visa restrictions, unemployment, poverty, language barriers and loneliness can make life impossible for the now ‘Stuck’ parent and child. The parent sometimes has no choice but to return to their home country without their child.
GlobalARRK is the only charity specialising in supporting Stuck Parents
Are you a Stuck Parent?
Have you moved abroad and the other parent forbids you to move with your children to the place you consider home? We offer support to all parents who are unable to return home with their children, or have had to leave their children behind after a relationship breakdown abroad.
We can offer you information, professional contacts and a peer support network. Click below to complete the contact form.
Latest News
2024 Seasonal Newsletter from GlobalARRK CEO
Dear Friends, As 2024 draws to a close, we at GlobalARRK want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had this year. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to make a real difference for stuck parents during their darkest times. Together, we’ve also made strides in raising awareness and advocating for fairer, more compassionate treatment of families caught in international relocation and Hague Convention challenges. It’s been a busy year at GlobalARRK! In 2024, we’ve supported over 500 new parents needing help with international relocation and 1980 Hague Convention matters — a 46% increase! Through our helpline, email support, peer groups, and partnerships, we’ve been able to guide families toward hope and solutions. Check out our Impact report, here Here’s how we’ve grown and expanded our services this year, thanks to funding from The National Lottery:New Information Guides: With help from our Legal Network partners, we’ve updated and expanded our guides to provide legal and wellbeing information for families. There are also more on the way! Check them out here Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit Group: This 12-week online program supports survivors of domestic abuse by offering a safe space for trauma-informed exercises, resilience building, and long-term wellbeing. Monthly Legal Clinic: Together with our Legal Network, we’ve launched a monthly clinic where families in England can receive free advice on their complex Hague or relocation cases. Lived Experience Group: Focus groups now offer parents a voice, enabling them to safely share their experiences with decision-makers to support positive system change. Workshops and Webinars: From legal advice to mental health, online safety, and therapeutic writing, we’ve hosted monthly sessions to equip families with valuable knowledge and skills. Shaping the FutureBeyond supporting parents, we’ve been championing system change. This year, we had the honour of sitting on the Steering Committee and representing our community at the HCCH Forum on Domestic Violence and the Hague Convention, where survivors were heard on an international stage for the first time. The outcome? A commitment to finding practical solutions to the issues raised. We look forward to continuing this critical work at the next Forum in the Autumn, 2025, in Brazil.Looking ahead to April 2025, we’ll be presenting at an international meeting to reflect on 15 years of the Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation. We’ll share our findings on family relocation systems and advocate for best practices. If you’d like to contribute to our relocation survey, we’d be grateful for your input — take part here.To attend these two vital events in person, we need to raise £3,000 to cover travel expenses to Washington and Brazil. If you are in a position to help with these significant costs, please donate via our website or contact us directly. Christmas AppealThis holiday season, we’re continuing our tradition of raising funds for families who are stuck far from home and facing financial hardship. Your donations help us provide essential support throughout the year. To make a contribution, please visit this link. Thank You!It’s been an incredible year, and we couldn’t have done it without the dedication of our volunteers, parents, trustees, staff, and funders. Your support has touched countless lives, and […]
Forum on Domestic Violence and the 1980 Hague Convention Report out!
We are pleased to announce that the report on the historic Forum on Domestic Violence and the Hague Abduction Convention is out! GlobalARRK was involved right from the start, continued as a member of the diverse steering group and then gave three presentations. We are grateful to Dr. Christophe Bernasconi, the Secretary General, for his unwavering support of the Forum and for the voice of lived experience to be heard. We also wish to thank our community of stuck parents who supported the project throughout by offering their lived experiences and in helping inform and shape our requests for system change. We look forward to meeting again next year in Brazil to continue the work. If you would like to read the full report, here is the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MmGnz1ZXWwXrSXhyKVvAE-CGm8ahPPEr/view?usp=drive_link
GlobalARRK launches its Remote Legal Clinic
GlobalARRK is delighted to announce that this month we launched our first pilot Remote Legal Clinic session! This month the clinic benefited from legal advice from MSB / Katie Camozzi. We are grateful to all of our Network partners who have signed up so far including Carolina Marin Pedreno, Marianna Michaelides, Sarah Inchley, Forum Shah, Kirsty Leedam, Simon Craddock, Kim Lehal, Joanna Farrands, Alison Leviesley, Gemma Kelsey,Amy Rowe and Maria Wright. The Legal Clinic enables Stuck Parents who are without legal representation to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable solicitor regarding a 1980 Hague Convention International Parental Abduction or International Relocation matter in England and Wales. This project is funded by The National Lottery Grant we received earlier this year and seeks to: We are delighted to announce we will be rolling this out as a monthly service from Autumn 2024 for our service users. MSB https://www.msbsolicitors.co.uk/our-people/katie-camozzi/
GlobalARRK launches four Reports today in preparation for the Forum on the HC and DV
This week sees the HCCH’s Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention begins, with GlobalARRK CEO Roz and Trustee Ruth speaking in a number of sessions to highlight the key issues facing stuck parents impacted by the Hague Convention 1980. In response to the Forum, we are delighted to announce we have launched four new reports in which highlight the key issues : Report 1: Models for monitoring the impact of the 1980 Abduction ConventionReport 2: Relocation ReportReport 3: The aftermath of Hague Convention decisions:Report 4: International Child Law: the mental health effects on ‘Stuck’ parents Check them out here: https://www.globalarrk.org/research/ If you are interested in following the Forum, follow us over on X / Twitter for our live tweets. @GlobalARRK
GA Webinar on Protective Measures
In June our CEO Roz spoke alongside international family law experts Mr Justice Williams, Sirin Yuce, Stephen Cullen and Damien Greer on the subject of the effectiveness of Protective Measures under the Hague 1980 Abduction Convention. Many thanks to legal network partners Amy Rowe, Dawson Cornwell and Dr Maria Wright of Hunters Law for organising and chairing the event.
Thank you!
Thank you for supporting our Christmas hardship fundraiser, we raised £1,049! All of this money will be distributed to stuck parents living in hardship this year.
Testimonials
Steph
It's the only organization out there that serves this somewhat unique group, and those running it appear competent and motivated.StephCarole
This is a brilliant organisation doing its best to help very vulnerable people and they handle everything kindly and professionally.CaroleKaren
Whenever I come across a story like mine, the first thing I recommend is GlobalARRK. The only place with so much expertise in this matter, the only place you can communicate with so many stuck/Hague convention parents.KarenRebecca
The moment I was linked with GlobalARRK was a turning point for me, I no longer felt as alone as I had.RebeccaJoanna
The knowledge and resources you provide are amazing but without a doubt, for me, it's the support. I don't know how I would have made it through the last year without the support of GlobalARRK and the other stuck parents, I can't find the words to express my gratitude and love for all of you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! XJoannaMary
It give hope and the much needed support of others in the same situation, without GlobalARRK I would have been still stuck in feeling like I was the only person in the world going through this nightmareMaryJosie
Because the general public has no clue about this problem and it's hard to find people who understand.JosieEmma
Moral Support and gaining a better understanding of international law.EmmaAnnie
GlobalARRK people are calm and sane in an insane situation.AnnieJackie
It has given me strength and hope knowing that I’m not fighting this alone and that there’s an organisation of people who are fighting this fight. The group gives me strength and support, advice and a place where I can share my experience and feel like I’m helping others. It helps me feel empowered and supported. There’s also all the practical advice and meeting other mums face to face.JackieRachel
Invaluable moral support, got me in touch with my current lawyer, gave a general advice on the situation, helped me to get in touch with mothers in the same situationRachelAndrea
The information and knowledge you have provided is beyond what I expected. The contact from you and other parents in my situation has been invaluable, I couldn't have imagined trying to go through this without all of your support and knowledgeAndreaSarah
I am forever grateful to GlobalARRK for supporting me through the most difficult time in my life. They helped find a great solicitor. They also helped me with advice in regards to accommodation and other practical things. What's more important, they have been there for me, giving me emotional support, day or night.SarahHelen
Only people who have been through such a horrific experience as we have, or are going through it, truly fathom the pain, fear, feelings of hopelessness and despair. The GlobalARRK team have been there. They really understand. They provided me with non-judgmental practical support and advice. They saved my sanity. I cannot thank them enough for the help they provided me and so many others like meHelen
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The GlobalARRK mission
To prevent international custody disputes and reduce their devastating impact on children and parents ‘stuck’ in a foreign country by raising awareness and connecting parents to support services to meet their needs
Stuck Parent survey
Knowledge is power! If you are a stuck parent please join hundreds of stuck parents in adding your experiences to our anonymous survey.
You can help to bring much needed understanding on this issue.
