Over 500 people from around the world joined us live for a powerful and timely webinar: “DV & the Hague Abduction Convention: Safeguarding Survivors.”
This international event was jointly hosted by FiLiA Hague Mothers, GlobalARRK, Sanctuary for Families, and Revibra Europa in the lead-up to October’s HCCH Forum on Domestic Violence and the Hague Convention in Brazil. Together, we brought survivor voices, legal expertise, and frontline experience to the table — shining a light on the urgent reforms needed to better protect mothers and children who experience domestic violence within the framework of the Hague Abduction Convention.
What We Covered
The session featured an exceptional line-up of international speakers — legal and academic experts, frontline professionals, and survivors — who addressed the deep challenges faced by mothers and children navigating the Hague system.
Key issues explored included:
- Access to justice for women and children, and the persistent gender bias and inequality of arms in Hague litigation.
- Abduction as a protective act, when mothers flee violence to safeguard themselves and their children.
- The impact of domestic violence and coercive control on children’s wellbeing and safety.
- Pro-contact culture and protective measures: where courts’ default assumptions can undermine survivor safety.
- Post-separation abuse and forced relocation, and the systemic, cultural, and economic barriers mothers face in seeking justice.
Why This Matters
At the heart of the discussion was a call to re-examine the assumptions underpinning the Hague Abduction Convention and to center the voices of survivors. Mothers and children caught in these cross-border disputes are too often silenced or overlooked, while systemic bias and lack of resources create further harm.
By convening this conversation ahead of the HCCH Forum, we sought to amplify survivor experiences, challenge entrenched practices, and put forward practical solutions for safeguarding survivors in Hague cases.
About the Hosts
- FiLiA Hague Mothers is a global campaign working to end the injustices created by the Hague Convention for mothers and children who are victims of domestic abuse.
- GlobalARRK is the only charity dedicated to supporting “Stuck Parents” who cannot return home with their children after international relationship breakdowns and custody disputes.
- Sanctuary for Families (New York) serves survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and related gender-based violence, providing direct services and systemic advocacy.
- Revibra Europa supports migrant women in Europe facing domestic violence and legal struggles, with a focus on mothers navigating Hague and family court processes.
Post a comment