Domestic Violence and International Child Safety

International child safety and kidnapping in the midst of domestic violence is a horrifying thought. Even if your home life is doing well, if you have children with a partner from another country, there is always a possibility that your children could end up without you in another country.

Here are some things to seriously consider, regarding domestic violence and international child safety, while making your plans for travel and your future. Can the other parent get a passport from their country for you child, or children without your consent? You may not know now, but you must find out.

What are the laws in the other parent's country in regards to your rights as a foreign parent of the children? Do you have any rights in this other country?

I recommend calling you countries Embassy in the other parent's country and explain your situation and concerns. Find out what you are up against before taking further steps.

If the other parent can get a foreign passport for your child, or children without your consent, this is something to seriously consider while making plans to keep you and your children safe and together.

If you have no rights as a parent in the other country involved, this is also something that requires serious consideration before traveling there as a family on a vacation, or sending your children for a visit. If you don't have passports for your children from their country of birth, get passports now... you may need the other parent's consent.

This is for your children's safety. If by chance they are removed from your country with foreign passports, you will have the kids passports from their country of birth to help in bringing them home.

Make sure you intercept the passports from the mailbox, make copies, and put the original away for safe keeping. Keep all passports with a friend, or family member - out of your home.

If you are going through a divorce, try to get full custody of your children and explain that the other partner has citizenship in another country. This will help to protect your kids.

Then if by chance the worst case scenario was to happen, and your abuser takes your kids to their country, you contact your Embassy in the other country involved. Send them copies of your kids passports, your most recent photographs of the kids, and as much information on your abuser's family as possible (names and addresses) to help locate your kids. At this point, get legal advice... If you haven't already!

For more information on protecting your children from international kidnapping, I recommend visiting Child Abduction Prevention.

Go to surviving-domestic-violence.org from domestic violence and international child safety