Family law ‘fuels legal abductions’ warns mum
A MOTHER whose daughter was wrenched from her because an international treaty allowed her partner to “legally abduct” their child has used her case as a warning to other mothers fighting to keep their children safe.
Tracy Glover yesterday warned parents on the run with their youngsters after losing court rulings that their situation could get worse because of the Hague Convention.
Ms Glover is only able to see her 11-year-old daughter via video chat after her father “abducted” her three years ago.
She last saw the little girl, who now lives in the Czech Republic, over the summer.
Under the Hague Convention, children who have been abducted have to be returned to the country of their “habitual residence”.
Heartbreaking
Even though her daughter lived in England when she was taken abroad without Ms Glover’s consent, because the schoolgirl had spent eight of her 11 years in the Czech Republic, her father successfully argued it was her “habitual residence”.
Ms Glover spoke out after a woman fled the UK with her two children when her abusive paranoid schizophrenic ex was given rights to see their children through the Hague Convention – of which the UK is part.
The woman moved to Cyprus in a bid to safeguard the youngsters because even though she was awarded sole custody their father could still get access to them.
The case was revealed as the Daily
Express’ End This Injustice crusade is calling for the reform of the Family Court system.
Ms Glover, 44, of Bradford, said that in her case she had split with her ex but he agreed to live in Britain.
Following a row with Ms Glover’s mother it is claimed he returned to the Czech Republic with their daughter without telling her.
She alleged: “He had absconded with her, I asked ‘When are you coming back?’
“Before my daughter left she said: ‘I don’t want to go mummy.’
“I rang the police and even though he abducted her a decision was taken that because she had lived in the Czech Republic for eight years previously it was seen by Interpol that it was legal.”
Ms Glover claimed the Hague Convention was “enabling men to abduct children legally”.
She said: “The family wrong.
“I want to warn people that your situation is bad and it can probably get worse for you – it’s awful with this Hague Convention.”
The international treaty developed by the Hague Conference on International Law in 1980 aims to system is secure the safe return of a child who is internationally abducted by a parent, from one country to another.
But in child custody cases Ms Glover claimed the convention also has the power of tearing families apart.
A court hearing was staged in the Czech Republic Ms Glover claims without her knowledge involving her ex, who she had been with for 14 years and gave her ex custody of their little girl.
Ms Glover claimed: “I was not in court when the decision over my daughter was made. On the morning she was taken she cried for five hours non-stop, it was heartbreaking.”
She added: “My little girl is living without her mum.
“There’s no happy ending for me, I lost her after being her primary carer for eight years. It’s shocking.”
The End This Injustice campaign aims to remove the parental rights of fathers of children conceived through rape and for an inquiry into the handling by Family Courts of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls in child arrangement cases.
A LANDSLIDE victory for pro-democracy candidates in the Hong Kong elections presents a chance to “find a way through the crisis”, according to the British Government.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday welcomed the commitment of Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, to reflect on the message sent by voters to the rulers of the former British territory.
Downing Street urged calm in Hong Kong but said political dialogue was the only way forward.
The election triumph
– in which pro-democracy councillors won
90 per cent of seats – underlined support for the widespread protests over deepening ties with China.