International family mediation
I guide you through your international, family conflict
Is mediation useful for international family conflicts?
What can you do to prevent escalation of the conflict or child abduction?
When you have another nationality, lived elswhere or had another ‘home’country, it’s not always easy to communicate with your partner. A higher risk for divorce and child abduction appears to exist then.
What is child abduction?
When your (ex)partner has taken the child(ren) away from the country of habitual residence back to the home country or another country without asking your permission nor communicating to you and does not come back.
Return of the child
How will you get your child back?
The International Hague Convention on abduction of children (1980) and the Brussels II bis Agreement give a legal basis to the left behind parent to ask for the immediate return of the child.
Look for an international mediator to organise an intense mediation of maximum three days in the country where the child was abducted to.
Fixed & correct all-in price
You can count on a fixed & correct all-in price.What are the advantages of cross border mediation?
You avoid high costs of a courtcase, of a lawyer and of a permanent fight concerning your child
You can come to an immediate, efficient solution.
You avoid a divorce or taking a definite, extreme decision concerning your child or your relationship
You can avoid your child being taken abroad.
Talk things through and put arrangements on paper with your partner, under the guidance of a neutral, independent mediator.
In the country of residence (where the family lived before the abduction) the judge will then decide on the divorce or other financial arrangements for the family.
You reach an efficient solution for your international family conflict before or after the disappearance of your child I will guide you setting up a clear agreement holding future arrangements for you as parents and for your child. Make an appointment to put things in a row, find out where the problem really lies. My focus is based on a longlasting expertise and transparant approach.
What can you do?
When the risk exists that your (ex)partner will take the child to another country:
- make sure you inform family and relevant people involved (school, city council,...).
- Consult an international mediator to prevent the situation to escalate or action is being taken on the child.
- Ask the local authority to state that the partner cannot leave the country with the child or hand out an ID-card or passport, without your permission.
- inform the police to set up a ‘ warning sign’ for the parent that might take the children abroad.
- In case, consult a lawyer and obtain a judgement through the local legal procedure, so your rights towards your child are confirmed and preventive measures can be mentioned. When you obtain the recognition/official confirmation in a judgement through the Belgian judicial system (with an Exequatur) to be able to execute your rights (like the parental authority) abroad, you will feel more secure.
REMARKS:
* Bare in mind that when your child has a double nationality, a different authority can hand out an ID-card or passport. Contact the embassy of the other nationality for more information!
* If the risk exists to be abducted to a country where a passport is required, you can add your child to the PASBANN-list in the Passport Service of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs: FOD Buitenlandse Zaken, Tweede Directie Personenverkeer, Karmelietenstraat 15, 1000 Brussel.
* A Belgian judgement will not always be recognised or ‘executed’ abroad. Check your information.
- Call Child Focus to open a file on the free number 116000. A social assistant will check with you what the different options are, contact the different stakeholders and try to find a solution for the return of the child.
- Consult an international mediator to prevent the situation to escalate or action is being taken against or with the child. If a dialogue with the disappearing parent is possible the communication will be restored or set up with a mediator through different communication channels : skype, zoom, whereby, email, whatsapp, telephone, ...
- When parents come to an agreement through a mediator (or co-mediators), a judicial procedure can be avoided. This will certainly be much cheaper, quicker and more efficient.
- When the communication has stopped or is non-existant with the abducting parent, contact the list of recognised mediators in cross border conflicts through Child Focus Belgium, IKO in the Netherlands or MiKK in Germany.
- When mediation is not possible, consult a lawyer (with knowledge of International Family Law).
- Check if an international convention with the country where the child is taken to, exists and apply for return through the Belgian Central Authority.
- If there is none, go to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through Embassies and Consulates they will help you trace the child and find a solution.
- you can go to the police and file a complaint against the abducting parent. A criminal procedure has an effect on the other efforts made... When your child has disappeared and you don’t know if the other parent took it or not, go to go the police as soon as possible. Come to me to advise you to find your child back safe and sound !
REMARK
Research states clearly that the chances of return of the child are higher and the agreement between the parents is more often executed and lasting when an end has been brought to the abduction. You reach an efficient solution for your international family conflict before or after the disappearance of your child. I will guide you to set up a clear agreement holding future arrangements for you as parents and between you and your child. Make an appointment to clear out the situation, point out the real problem.
My focus is based on a longlasting expertise and transparant approach.
Important contact adresses
- Child Focus in Belgium with an international network of trained international Family mediators.
- IKO in the Netherlands : a very good functioning Centre for International Child Abduction. Telephone number : +31 (0)88 - 800 90 00.
- MiKK in Germany : centre, specialised in international family training and conflicts.
Some relevant blog articles on my experience-knowledge platform
What Katrien has to offer
- After following an international training for mediators in cross border conflicts, specifically child abduction cases (MiKK, Berlin, Germany), I realised the high importance and benefit of bringing ‘mixed marriages’ or couples with a different nationality together around the table.
- Discuss cultural differences or traditions with me before the conflict escalates and you as a parent take the decision to leave the country with (or without) the child!
- A longlasting solution for your international family conflict before or after disappearance of your child, by setting up a clear and solid agreement with you as parents on the residence settlement and future of the child and parental authority, for a certain period of time.
- A broad spectrum of international experiences and long stays abroad, added a lot of ‘color’ to my job with different nationalities and backgrounds.
- A longlasting solution for your international family conflict, by setting up a clear and solid agreement with you as parents on the residence settlement and future of the child and parental authority, for a certain period of time.
- Recognition of gender, cultural differences and the right approach of children in their family context through a wide range of international experiences and long stays abroad (Sarajevo-Yugoslavia, South-Africa, Zimbabwe, USA, Saarbrucken-Germany).
- Extended skills to bring people with different nationalities to mutual agreements.