Inter-American Convention cases

A series of global and regional instruments touching upon the issue of international child abduction are applicable in the Americas.

The Inter-American Child Abduction section is intended to monitor the regional development of jurisprudence related to the Inter-American Convention of 15 July 1989 on the International Return of Children and also provide access to doctrine in Spanish and key reference documents related to international child abduction in the Americas.

More than half of the 35 Member States of the Organisation of American States (OAS) are currently party to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Over a third of OAS Members are currently party to the Inter-American Convention of 15 July 1989 on the International Return of Children. Where a State is party to both these Conventions, Article 34 of the Inter-American Convention gives priority to the Inter-American Convention over the Hague Child Abduction Convention unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned.