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Procedural Matters

Preliminary ruling issued: The provisions laid down in Article 21 et seq. of the Brussels IIa Regulation do not apply to provisional measures, relating to rights of custody, falling within the scope of Article 20 of that regulation.

Aims of the Convention - Preamble, Arts 1 and 2 | Procedural Matters

Preliminary ruling issued on Questions 1, 2, 4 and 5; see below.

Human Rights - Art. 20

Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2) | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2)

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Issues Relating to Return

The Argentinean decisions ordering the return of the child were not contrary to Arts. 8 and 25 (and therefore not contrary to Arts. 17 and 29) of the American Convention on Human Rights (San José Pact).

Procedural Matters

An order for costs could be made against an applicant in Convention proceedings, although this should only happen in exceptional cases. In the instant case an order would be made because the mother had acted unreasonably in her pursuit of a return order, which she was ultimately advised to withdraw.

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Procedural Matters

Appeal dismissed, application dismissed

Appeal dismissed and thereby application dismissed; the child was not habitually resident in Italy on the date the removal took place.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Undertakings | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2)

Return ordered

Removal wrongful and return ordered; none of the exceptions had been established to the standard required under the Convention, however, the return was subject to extensive and stringent conditions, including the obtaining of a mirror order in the High Court of South Africa.

Acquiescence - Art. 13(1)(a) | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2) | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2)

Return ordered

Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2) | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2)

Return refused

Return refused; the removal was wrongful, being in breach of the father's rights of custody, but the older siblings had valid objections to a return and the children would face a grave risk of harm if separated.

Removal and Retention - Arts 3 and 12 | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2)

Appeal dismissed, return refused

Appeal dismissed and return refused: the removal was wrongful, but Article 12(2) had been proved to the standard required under the Convention.

Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Issues Relating to Return | Procedural Matters

Breach of Articles 6 and 8 of the ECHR, award of damages. In merely representing the father before the local courts the Romanian authorities had failed to observe their full obligations under Article 7 of the Hague Convention. The erroneous interpretation of Article 3 of the Hague Convention and thereby the guarantees of that instrument led to a violation of Article 8 of the ECHR.

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Acquiescence - Art. 13(1)(a) | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2)

Appeal allowed, return ordered

Appeal allowed and return ordered; Article 13(1)(a) - acquiescence - had not been proved to the standard required under the Convention.

Human Rights - Art. 20

Appeal inadmissible for being manifestly unfounded. None of Arts. 3, 12, 13(1)(b) and 14 is inconsistent with the German Constitution, and neither their interpretation nor their application by the Court of Appeal was inconsistent with the Constitution.

Acquiescence - Art. 13(1)(a) | Procedural Matters

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Appeal dismissed and return ordered; the retention was wrongful and none of the exceptions had been proved to the standard required by the Convention.

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Return ordered

Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2)

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Rights of Access - Art. 21 | Procedural Matters

The father's appeal was dismissed; the mother's appeal was granted. The court excluded any access on the grounds that contact between the father and the children was not in the children's best interests.