Grave Risks To Left-Behind Parents of International Child Abduction Include Murder, Assault, Death Threats, Identity Theft - and Tragic Circumstances

Left behind parents of international child abduction face extreme and at times deadly risks when they attempt to reunite with their internationally kidnapped child under the auspices of a court order or when a legal arm of justice has no reach due to diluted, contradictory, or non-existent international law dealing with international child abduction.  In less than one month's time, the community of left behind parents lost two more parents (fathers) who were in the process of reuniting with their abducted children. The I CARE Foundation would like to express our deepest sympathies to families and friends of both fathers after such terrible tragedies.

The deaths of these fathers - one a murder and one an accident - should not have happened and would not have occurred if their children had not been abducted.  Responsibility in great part of these two tragic events undeniably falls on the international legal community at large that does not expedite the severity of international child abduction, and as demonstrated in the tragedy of Mr. Mattoni - countries such as the Philippines still have not acted responsibly and joined the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention. Let me make this clear - the deaths of Mr. Exposito Moreno and Mr. Mattoni should not have occurred. But there is more - the reality is that so many left behind parents who have their children kidnapped abroad have their lives threatened. These threats are not rare but are actually the norm. As a society we must not accept either a child's international abduction or the very real threats aimed at targeted parents of abduction. This is an outrage!

The gravity of the hardships chasing parents face in the wake of their child's parental abduction are far from isolated incidences. Left behind parents are at often victims of murder, death threats (including threats to family members), tragic accidents, assaults, false allegations of abuse and/or assault, identity theft, slander, financial theft, and anything else that will assist the parental child kidnapper in getting away with their act of kidnapping.  The reality is left behind parents not only have to deal with the fact that their child has been internationally kidnapped, but that their life is under attack by their child's other parent - the child's kidnapper.

The I CARE Foundation has repeatedly stated there are typically two victims when it comes to international parental child abduction: the victimized, kidnapped child and the left behind parent.

Rightfully, society's primary attention focuses on the kidnapped child; however, for too long we have not addressed the real dangers that left behind parents, chasing into the darkest storms face in the wake of their child's abduction.

Make no mistake, the journey that chasing parents, left in the wake of their son's or daughter's international child kidnapping face, are extreme in every possible sense.

On June 25, 2014 Domingo Exposito Moreno, age 32 and a resident of Spain's Andalusian town of Fuengirola was shot five times by a hooded gunman while sitting in a car awaiting his attorney's arrival in the southern Argentina's Patagonian City of Comodoro. Domingo Exposito Moreno was a left-behind parent who endured a prolonged four years international child abduction litigation case under the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention. 

The Argentinian court had ordered he would be able to bring his six-year old daughter home after she had been abducted by her mother and taken from Spain to Argentina. Previous to his murder, Domingo Exposito Moreno had made complained to Argentinian authorities that he had been receiving death threats via social media forums. Tragically, local law enforcement failed to act on his complaints. More than likely law enforcement did not take his concerns seriously and more than likely wrongfully viewed his concerns as a banter commonly associated with divorce and child custody cases as opposed to the reality that his case was in fact a child kidnapping case.  An expected march is scheduled for July 25th, 2014 in Comodoro to commemorate Domingo's murder and remind the world that international parental child abduction is a dangerous crime against both child and targeted parent.

July 12, 2014 New York City resident Frank Mattoni died after being involved in a motorcycle accident while in the Philippines while attempting to reunite with his internationally kidnapped daughter Kayla. Having seen numerous court documents and exhibits that were presented to the New York State Supreme Court, Frank Mattoni claimed the child's mother Sheila Digon Castillo had taken the child to the Philippines right after the child's birth nearly 10 years ago. The court documents Frank Mattoni presented to the New York State court stated that once he ended the relationship with Sheila Digon Castillo, Ms. Castillo never informed him that she was pregnant, nor, did she inform him until several years later that he was a father.

Instead of sharing with Frank Mattoni that she was pregnant, Ms. Castillo decided it would be better for the child not to have a relationship with her father (Frank), and as Ms. Castillo was focused on advancing her career as a nurse in New York City, she decided to bring the child to the Philippines so she could be raised by her relatives.  These details were unknown to Frank as he did not know he had a daughter born and raised for the first three months of her life on Manhattan's Upper East Side. According to Frank Mattoni (and extensive court documents and evidence presented into New York State's Supreme Court), Sheila Digon Castillo contacted Frank on his birthday several years ago after not contacting him since Frank ended his relationship with Sheila (in court documents presented by both parties, there were no claims of abuse made against Frank) and told him that she and his daughter wish him a happy birthday. He was told that his daughter's name was Kayla (who looks so much like Frank), and that she was living in the Philippines.

That day was the first time Frank ever knew he had a daughter.  Frank was a wonderful man and this news, about having a daughter, clearly brought such incredible joy to his life.

Soon after, Frank arranged for Sheila to travel to the Philippines and pick up Kayla in order to bring her back to the United States.  So Frank eventually got to meet his beautiful daughter, and with that he quickly stepped into the role of being a proud father, which was evidenced by the hours and hours of videos and pictures I personally viewed.

Obviously and rightfully so, Frank had serious trust issues concerning Sheila - how could he not when this was a person who would deny their child the love of their father, especially since Frank was a good man.  So one day, and unknown to Sheila, Frank took Kayla to the hospital to have both of their DNA tested.  Sure enough, Kayla was indeed Frank's daughter. And as he told me, "It was one of the greatest days of my life ... just knowing. The greatest day was when I looked at my daughter for the first time: I knew she was my daughter."

During the near month that Kayla was in the United States, Frank welcomed Sheila and Kayla into his extended family.  The pictures and videos I have witnessed showed a young girl ... finally coming home ... and a father who simply loved her and was willing to do anything possible in a cooperative, co-parenting way for Kayla's sake.

In order to have a voice in Kayla's life, Frank knew that he needed to seek the assistance of the courts. As he told me, he had some real concerns that Sheila was perhaps not telling him the truth when it came to co-parenting Kayla. So he sought relief and assistance from the New York State Supreme Court which at the time had jurisdiction over Kayla while she was in New York.

Unfortunately, Frank was unable to serve Sheila with his court papers before she whisked the child back to the Philippines and out of the reach of the New York State Supreme Court.  New York state no longer had jurisdiction because Kayla was no longer living in New York, nor had she been there for the required period of time that would have allowed the state's courts long-arm reach regarding jurisdiction... all this despite the fact that Ms. Castillo lived in New York and only one mile away from Frank!

Even with the DNA evidence that Frank had, proving that Kayla was his daughter, this evidence meant nothing in New York. Frank put forth real efforts, which revolved solely around the best interest of his daughter in a co-parenting light, to resolve this matter.  However, I witnessed on many occasions the telephone calls, emails, etc from Frank that went unanswered. Eventually, Frank left New York and went to the Philippines in an effort to reunite with his daughter, Kayla, who truly meant everything in the world to him. And I do mean, everything.

Tragically, during his efforts to reunite with his daughter, he passed away after being involved in a motorcycle accident. His death will be felt by so many individuals that knew and cared for Frank. Sadly, his daughter Kayla will only know a part of the loving father he was.

And should one day Kayla Castillo Mattoni ever read this, Kayla I hope you know just how much your father loved you.  You brought such joy and happiness to his life.  One day I hope you are able to obtain the United States of America flag that was flown over the United States Capitol in your father's honor, along with the accompanying citation in your name, that I presented to him.

Once again, the hard reality that the Philippines is not a member of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention further demonstrates, as in Frank Mattoni's case, how a loving parent has limited options available to them outside of traveling to the foreign country and attempting to reunite with the child overseas. The challenges Frank faced trying to reunite with his daughter are not uncommon.

Sadly, even the best of efforts to reunite a child with their left behind parent can often fail.  The hard truth is that international parental child abduction law is complex - and growing more complicated with each day as exemplified by a widened acceptance of Article 13(1) defenses under the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention.

To put it as simple as possible - the vast majority of children around the world do not come home because the systems we use do not work effectively, or the systems we expect to exist to help children and parents of abduction simply do not exist.

The tragic deaths of Domingo Exposito Moreno and Frank Mattoni - though different - exemplify the risks left behind parents face. These tragedies are not uncommon, nor are the real death threats and other formidable acts left behind parents have to face.

Today, I am happy to share that the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 2509. This is a very big deal in the fight to protect American children and their targeted parents from abduction.

With approximately 20% of American children abducted to Hague signatory countries being court ordered to be returned home, and approximately 11% of American children abducted to non-Hague signatory countries being court ordered by a foreign court to be returned to the United States, it is imperative that judges everywhere realize that the reality is that the most left behind parents will never reunite with their abducted child. In the meantime, the risks and peril they face are extreme.

The key to protecting children from international parental child abduction is to prevent it from happening. Since the I CARE Foundation's inception, the U.S. child abduction rate has declined over the past four years by 38.06%.

May God look over the souls of Domingo Exposito Moreno and Frank Mattoni while also protecting the lives of these two fathers' daughters.

On behalf of The I CARE Foundation,

Peter Thomas Senese 

Click here to read articles about International Parental Child Abduction

 

Peter Senese: Stopping An International Abduction To Japan

Over the years I have been actively involved in voluntarily helping and protecting children in crisis which has lead to my work of helping to stop child abduction. I made a promise years ago when I was searching, and that was to one day try to make a difference, and I strive to do that each day.

During this timeframe, I have been involved in a rather large number of abduction cases: either trying to prevent abduction or bring a kidnapped child home under the rules of the Hague Convention.

I would like to share a recent letter from a parent who had their child targeted for abduction to Japan. If the child was able to have been removed from the United Stated, the parent would have never been able to see their child again.

There are no words that can express the depth of the tragedy that would have occurred for both child and targeted parent if abduction occurred.

Fortunately the I CARE Foundation stepped in and we protected both child and parent. This Is How:
Read the Sworn Testimonial Letter From The Targeted Parent.

Now over the years, the I CARE Foundation has had to deal with many issues concerning abduction to Japan.  The reality is that Japan does not return internationally abducted children. They remain a non-signatory member of the Hague Convention. And critically, they place the lives of children of abduction at risk.

As for the targeted parent who was able to protect their child, I must say that he unquestionably is one of the kindest, gentlest, and loving parents I know.

To read a large number of select testimonial letters from parents who I and the I CARE Foundation have assisted, Please Click Here. 

Critically, parents need to know the Warning Signs Of International Parental Child Abduction.

Of great interest is the fact that the I CARE Foundation's groundbreaking International Travel Child Consent Form is being hailed as one of the most important child abduction prevention tools ever created.

On a personal note, it is my honor to be able to have helped as many parents and children as I and my colleagues at the I CARE Foundation have.

The shared select testimonials were provided in order to educate others of the severity parents around the world face when dealing with the abduction of their child.

Kind regards to all,

Peter Thomas Senese 

I CARE Foundation's International Travel Child Consent Form Continues To Make A Difference Protecting Children From Abduction

The I CARE Foundation's International Travel Child Consent Form continues to be a tool utilized by parents and the legal community on a global scale that is making an incredible impact on the fight to stop children from being internationally parentally abducted.

As many of you are aware, the summer months are a time where international abductions are at the highest levels and, in my role as the Executive Director of the I CARE Foundation, I am pleased to say that every child that was expected to be returned home around the world, that used the Travel Consent Form, has indeed done just that... come home!

I invite you to read a piece that the Colorado Bar Association wrote about the I CARE Foundation and our groundbreaking International Travel Child Consent Form. 

To read more about the I CARE Foundation's International Travel Child Consent Form and to download a copy of the form, please visit The I CARE Foundation's website. 

Kindest regards to all,

Peter Thomas Senese
Executive Director
The I CARE Foundation

The Den Of The Assassin Author, Peter Thomas Senese, Makes A Generous Donation Helping Families In Crisis

Peter Thomas Senese, author of the critically-acclaimed novel, Chasing The Cyclone, made a promise a number of years ago, after his son was internationally abducted to the other side of the world - Peter Thomas Senese said: “A long time ago, while I was searching… I made a promise to one day try to make a difference so others would never have to chase the cyclone.  My work continues…”

Today, his work does continue... for not only is Peter Thomas Senese a best-selling author, but he is also the Founding Director of the I CARE Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to raising global awareness about the serious issue of international child abduction and trafficking.  The I CARE Foundation has, and continues to play a major role in creating legislative initiatives that are helping to reduce the rate of abduction.  In fact, since the start of the I CARE Foundation, the rate of international child abductions originating from the United States, have dropped by over 15% each year during the years 2011 and 2012.

Peter Thomas Senese has made it very clear that he is committed to helping families targeted for international abduction, both through his work with the I CARE Foundation and also by the fact that he so generously donates 100% of the royalties earned from the sale of his e-books,including Chasing The Cyclone and The Den Of The Assassin.

The fast-paced, legal thriller, Chasing The Cyclone has been heralded as a must read by targeted parents that are desperately trying to protect their children from international child abduction.  Peter Thomas Senese's novel has been recognized by child abduction prevention advocates as a road map on how a parent may either prevent the international abduction of their child or reunite with their child.  As international parental child abduction continues to be a grave concern for thousands of parents each year, resource guides that outline child abduction risk factors and preventive measures against abduction are critically important. Chasing The Cyclone provides parents with keen insight on these issues.

The Den Of The Assassin is being praised by top critics as an international financial espionage thriller that is filled with the modern-day realities of our post 9-11 world.  The story is steeped with realism and the frightful possibilities of global cyber and biological terrorism.  It opens in New York City where unassuming investment banker, Tyler Boxter, is preoccupied with his career on Wall Street, which acts a personal shield against the trappings of life that hides the guilt, pain and memories he doesn't want. During one of the biggest deals of his career, and unknown to Boxter, he is about to play a sophisticated but explosive game against a savage and merciless madman.

Peter Thomas Senese had this to say about The Den Of The Assassin: "For readers who enjoy fast-paced, multi-dimensional plots based upon historical events and plausible possibilities relevant to the world we live in today, The Den Of The Assassin will take readers on a thrilling global geopolitical journey that begins in New York City's Wall Street.  The reader is quickly introduced to the hidden and unseen worlds that exists within nations that have highly questionable agendas toward the United States and the West, including, but not limited to, China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.  It is here, in there worlds that disturbing plans that stand against America and the West's idea of liberty and freedom are carefully hatched and cultivated.  Most concerningly, as each nation has become more reliant on one another in our global society, a new level of extraordinary vulnerability to our national security has been created, on perhaps we may not be prepared for.  In The Den Of The Assassin, I believe readers will find the uniquely accurate information on this subject that is carefully weaved through an intricate, entertaining storyline to be quite fascinating - and disturbing."

Reviewers of The Den Of The Assassin have praised Peter Thomas Senese's storytelling.  

Renowned book critic Daniel Jolley commented: "This is one seriously good thriller.  Billed as a 'novel of international finance and espionage', Den Of The Assassin is a super-realistic exploration of frightening possibilities, unsurpassed heroism, Lucifer-life evil, and terrorism of the worst kind... The novel revolves around some kind of Day of the Jackal-like assassination plot, but the complexity of this novel stretches it's tendrils deeply into international finance, the vagaries of the American legal and health care systems, international terrorism, diplomacy, intelligence, WMD, and cold-blooded murder - with a little romance thrown in just to stir up the pot a little more.  Peter Thomas Senese does a masterful job traversing the inner hallways of diverse institutions as he slowly brings all these diverse elements together for a slam-bang climax... Peter Thomas Senese displays a wealth of knowledge of geopolitics, espionage and international finance, describing all the technical intricacies of the story's elements and implications with great attention to detail - without ever letting the pace get bogged down or become confusing to the reader.  He also keeps a number of secrets close to the vest, saving them for just the right time in the story.  This serves to make the book thoroughly believable and increasingly suspenseful. There's no shortage of action here.  What Tyler finds himself involved in is nothing less than a war, and he must fight to save not only himself, his friends and his company, but his very country from an unimaginable catastrophe.  The Father's network of agents and killers is as formidable as they come, and the security-related forces Tyler brings into the game are some of the best money can buy.  In the end though, the drama becomes deeply personal, as the Father and Tyler Boxter rush headlong toward a face-to-face encounter of epic proportions... Many a writer of thrillers seem to drop the ball somewhere in the middle of their novels, but Peter Thomas Senese's knowledge of geopolitics, international finance and 21st century terrorist threats keeps the fires of detailed complexity and story evolution stoked and red-hot for the entire ride.  Tyler Boxter is no James Bond, but Den Of The Assassin proves to be just as exciting as any 007 caper - and much more realistic."

Predators Games, which will be released soon, is the riveting sequel to The Den Of The Assassin.  It propels readers into the shocking and deadly world of alternative energy speculation and depicts the world's power-nations conspiring against one another in an extremely dangerous and potentially cataclysmic quest to control what was once the unthinkable unfolds as unique characters initially introduced in The Den Of The Assassin race into real and startling possibilities evolving around advances in alternatives energy and mankind's greed.

To learn more about Peter Thomas Senese and his various writings or child advocacy... or to order an autographed and dedicated copy of one of Peter's novels, please visit any of the following websites:

I CARE Foundation
The Official Website of Peter Thomas Senese
The Official Website of The Den Of The Assassin
The Official Website of Chasing The Cyclone

You can also purchase Peter's e-books at:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

New International Travel Child Consent Form Created To Protect Parents In Child Custody Litigation During Summer Vacations

Peter Senese and the I CARE Foundation are pleased to share the release of the ‘International Travel Child Consent Form’.

The document was created to help prevent international parental child abduction's connected to the failure of a parent to return a child traveling abroad.

 

High Conflict international divorce and separtion cases put a child at grave risk of international parental child abduction. When divorce or separation occurs between two individuals who were born in different countries, and one of those individuals has a deep tie to their country of birth, with the possbile desire to return their permanantly, the other parent must be aware of possible abduciton.

As school ends for the summer vacation, the vast majority of international parental child abduction threats and kidnappings take place. Often, these abductions occur when one parent is able to legally remove a child from their country of origin, and travel abroad - as an example, under the idea of a family vacation to visit relatives.  However, and unknown to the child’s other parent, who may or may not be traveling with the scheming parent, there is a deceitful and fraudulent plan to never return back home.

Today the I CARE Foundation released the “International Child Travel Consent Form” that was created to stop international parental child abduction when a parent traveling abroad with their child may consider not returning the child to their country of jurisdiction.
                                                                                        

  

                  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TRAVEL CONSENT FORM

Peter Senese, the Founding Director of the I CARE Foundation stated, “The key to protecting children at risk of abduction is to prevent their kidnapping. Today the I CARE Foundation is pleased to release our ’The International Child Travel Consent Form’ based upon substantial ‘Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction’ case law.

“The travel document is designed to remove an abductor’s defense under acts of wrongful detention and focuses on key issues related to the Hague Convention’s Articles 12, Article 13, and Article 20.

“The dedicated work of the I CARE Foundation’s legal advisory board, which includes members of the United States Department of State’s Hague Convention Attorney Network, to create this formidable legal abduction prevention tool bespeaks of the ongoing dedication to stop the criminal and highly abusive act of kidnapping.

“The travel document does not simply act as a parent consent form allowing a child to travel abroad but reinforces a child’s return to their country of origin based upon affirmation requirements that remove the majority of an abductor’s legal defenses to remain abroad in connection with Hague law."

 

The I CARE Foundation’s ‘International Child Travel Consent Form’ addresses many of the possible legal defenses an abductor may use in court under Article 12, Article 13, or Article 20 of the Hague Convention.

 

For more information about the ‘International Child Travel Consent Form’ and international parental child abduction please visit The I CARE Foundation official website.

For attorneys interested in obtaining a full legal brief and framework of the travel consent form, please contact mediarelations@stopchildabduction.org.

 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TRAVEL CONSENT FORM

 

Kindest regards to all,

Peter Senese

I CARE Foundation Director

Women Parenting Bloggers Help The I CARE Foundation Raise Awareness Of The I CARE Foundation

Some Call Them Parenting Bloggers, While Others Call Them Mommy Bloggers, While Others, Myself Included Simply Call Them Amazing Women Writers Who Are Changing The World.

An Incredible Group Of Women Who Are Mothers Have Come Together To Help Raise Awareness Of International Parental Child Abducton

Over the past 6 months I have been working with an incredible group of women writers who have assisted the I CARE Foundation raise awareness about international parental child abduction (IPCA).  Each of these writers happen to be mothers, writers, thinkers, partners, and incredibly thoughtful individuals who push society's conscience toward an enlightened and globally connected place. In the process, they are revolutionizing the way information and ideas are disseminated in a similar magnitude that Mary Welsh Hemingway and Jacqueline Saix did. And that is pretty remarkable.

And unquestionably, the world is a much better place because of these highly talented, insightful writers who happen to also be mothers or mothers-to-be. 

Through my and the I CARE Foundation's process of building a grass-roots awareness initiative concerning IPCA, I know I have become a better person:  more compassionate, understanding, a bit more patient, and definitely a whole lot more educated about a variety of things that would have never come across my plate because I have been able to connect with each of you.  

Yes, even with my hectic schedule, I do take the time to read the stories and essays posted on each of your sites!  This said ... I want you to all know that some of my male pals think I'm nuts when over a friendly poker game or a writers meeting I attend from time to time, I will share some things I have read on these sites that week - which I actually find very interesting . . . there is nothing funnier than seeing a few big tough guys squirm a bit, "Oh, why'd you have to bring that up?" or "You're getting to in touch with your feminine side - we don't need to know about that!"  So thank you for that, too!

Not only have each of you helped our community of activist fight against the horror of abduction, but you have raised the bar of what I expect from myself. 

Earlier today, as I was looking out at the U.S. Capitol Building, thinking a bit about Martha Washington, I found myself really reflecting about how blessed I am that a select group of wonderful women graciously allowed me to come into their lives and decided to stand the line and help protect children at risk of abduction by using their websites as forums to raise awareness amongst their readers.  

From these efforts the I CARE Foundation has been able to directly help protect several children.  It would be proper thinking that the material shared amongst these important sites will also help other parents and children in time . . . some who we will eventually meet and some we will never know.  But the information is there, and with as many as nearly 150,000 children expected to be internationally kidnapped abroad from the United States and Canada over the next 10 years, their effort is so important. 

For all of this, and so much more, I am so thankful that each of you took the time to answer an email and to stand, in your own way with those of us who know the darkness of having a child lost and who stand the line so others will not face the same fate. And through it all, there has been a whole bunch of laughter and giggles! 

I might not have said it directly, but if you pay attention to my work ... you would know that each of you are an inspiration to me. And my life is so much richer because of this. 

In the near future I will be publishing an extensive essay about how women writers who are also mothers - writers, parenting bloggers, mommy bloggers - whatever you prefer, but to me collectively society's conscience - have in fact changed the world for the better.

I would like to personally thank in no particular order Jennifer, Willa, Mary, Erica, Susann, Heather, Tracy, Lauren, Patsy, Lyndsay, Carlia, Natasha, Stephanie, Melissa, Janice, Leslie, Kathy, Alicia, Jade, Ariel, Leah, Amanda, Carrie, Tamara, Ashley, Jessica, Raquel, Erin, Mindy, Abigail, Elizabeth, Sharon, Janice, Tamara, Tricia, Stacy, Hana, Bobbie Anne, Janessa, Julie, Cascia, Amanda, Katie, Lauren, Sabrina, Laura, Claire, Erin, Ewa, Heather, Jade, Nishana, Janice, Elisabeth, Aprile, Elisa, and Melissa, Diane, Katrina, and Katie for all that you have done to help protect children from abduction and possible trafficking.

My words of thanks in truth cannot every be expressed in reflection of the depth of my gratitude.  I mean, how could I ever express the appreciation in my heart for your help protecting innocent children, other than to say 'Thank You'!

In the spirit of friendship to each of you, again, 'Thank You'.

Peter Thomas Senese
Founding Director
The I CARE Foundation

Cruise Ships and International Parental Child Abduction

Child Abduction Risks Associated With Cruise Ship Travel and the 
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

(Excerpt From Peter Thomas Senese & Carolyn Vlk's 'Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and Human Trafficking Report')

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

Sea Travel Closed-Loop Voyages

We are also very concerned that the documentary requirements for a “closed loop” cruise ship or other water vessel’s voyage or itinerary to contiguous countries or adjacent islands allows travelers to be exempt from the documentary requirements necessary for other types of travel. The CBP defines “closed loop” as occurring when “a vessel departs from a U.S. port or place and returns to the same U.S. port upon completion of the voyage. U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by DOS, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”


Travel requirements for children traveling at sea are quite alarming. The porous documentation controls in place due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative facilitate child abduction opportunity at sea in unthinkable ways. For example, there are certain cruise ships that have ports of call in other countries that cater specifically to children. These cruise ships hold over 5,000 passengers and typically have weekly departures. With thousands of children boarding one of these cruise ships, we acknowledge it is clear there is substantial opportunity for a parental or non-parental child abduction to occur.


In a likely scenario for cruise ship related international parental child abduction or child trafficking, an individual could presumably board a cruise ship with a targeted child with limited or fraudulent documentation for the child, travel to WHTI designated foreign ports, disembark with the child at a port of call and simply choose not to re-board the ship, effectively circumventing the necessity of a passport which is required for other types of travel.

The potential to illegally remove a child across international borders via cruise ship travel is substantially magnified because currently there are no systematic data base controls and other security measures that would prevent a child's illegal departure from the United States. Exemplifying this grave concern are direct statements made from the security departments of two of the world's largest cruise lines operators. In statements made by both companies, neither have a security database that would enable a parent nor a court of law to place a child's name on a 'no embarkment' list due to specified court order. So even if a court order is issued that either directly names the cruise ship company as part of the action or if the court order references the cruise ship company to prohibit a child's departure but does not list the cruise ship as part of the legal action, the cruise ship companies have nothing in place that would enable them to comply with the court order.


When representatives in the security departments of both cruise ship companies were asked what could be done with a court order prohibiting a child's departure, each spokesperson suggested that if the targeted parent knew what cruise ship and departure date their child was scheduled to travel on, then it would be up to the parent to contact local law enforcement.


Obviously, the ability for a single parent trying to protect their child's abduction to run from cruise ship port to cruise ship port hoping to determine if their child is traveling on one of the ships is more than daunting and unrealistic, particularly since the vast majority of international child abductions are well planned, and cleverly orchestrated.


In a time of increased international security concerns, it is inconceivable that the only type of data bases most cruise ship operators have in place is a data base that flags previous passengers from traveling on their fleet due to past conduct on board one of their ships.

Remarkably, there is no systematic check to determine if a child’s name has been placed on any law enforcement or government travel alert lists. However, if a U.S. passport was required and the U.S. passport was scanned, then a border patrol agent would have immediate access to potentially critical information regarding the safety of the child. We call upon the cruise ships to act responsibly by establishing security procedures including a 'no-embarkment' database that would assist in the prevention of international parental child abduction and human trafficking.


When we consider there are approximately 760 cruises scheduled to depart from the U.S. and travel in a ‘closed loop’ to the Caribbean during fiscal year 2011, this becomes very concerning. Our worry increases after we consider there are 47 "closed loop" cruises scheduled to depart the U.S. to Canada during the same period. And finally, our concern surges when we realize that there are 379 cruises scheduled to depart the U.S. and travel in a "closed loop" to Mexico.


As previously discussed in this report, Mexico is a hotbed for ‘reported’ and ‘unreported’ incoming and outgoing international parental child abduction cases.  A substantial number of U.S. parents have filed a Hague application due to the criminal international abduction of their child or children.  Unfortunately, very few abducted children return to the U.S. despite court orders demanding the child’s return.  These opinions are substantially backed by the U.S. Department of State, as Mexico has repeatedly been reported to Congress as a non-compliant member of the Hague Convention. In addition, Mexico’s record as a country known for its criminal activity of human trafficking is substantial.


We express our grave concern that cruise ships may be utilized to transport children illegally to and from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada as well island nations of the Caribbean.


It is inconceivable that U.S. children are still permitted to travel to specific foreign countries in accordance with the WHTI without a passport.  Today, nearly 30% of all U.S. citizens possess a passport. As that number continues to grow substantially each year it is unthinkable not to require a passport for a child to travel abroad.  In 2011 cruise ships are scheduled to originate from the U.S and travel to 63 ports of call in Mexico, 48 ports in the Caribbean, and from 20 ports of call in Canada. We contend that a failure to require children to present a passport for all international travel is an act of misguided negligence.


Closed-Loop Foreign Destination        Number of Cruises       Number of Ports

Caribbean                                              760                                63

Canada                                                  43                                  20

Mexico                                                  379                                48

                                               Watch Peter expalin the issues of WHTI

The CBP does state that a U.S. Citizen “may” be required to present a U.S. passport if disembarking at a foreign port but that this requirement is up to the individual ports-of-entry. We must also consider that smaller personal watercrafts traveling to foreign ports under a “closed-loop” journey offer distinct opportunity for child abductors and human traffickers to circumvent our nation’s laws or court orders. The lack of formidable travel documentation for cruise ship or other water vessel excursions originating from and returning to the United States is a black hole for would-be child abductors or traffickers.


The fact that cruise ships are being utilized in human trafficking is not unrecognized within the U.S. or in other countries. The following statements come directly from a human rights watchdog organization in Belize.

The Belize Organization for Responsible Tourism (ORT) issues this appeal to cruise lines bringing passengers to Belize, a superhighway for human trafficking. “We are asking for your help in stopping human trafficking in Belize. In particular, we appeal to Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Lines, which bring a combined 700, 000 tourists to Belize annually.


Cruise lines have a moral responsibility to help stop human trafficking in Belize. Each year thousands of human trafficking victims are transited through Belize via its porous and corrupt borders. Many are exported to other countries and never seen again by their families. Many endure lives of forced prostitution in Belize ficha bars.”

As these serious challenges come to light, we need to create a comprehensive short-term and long-term strategy that will prevent child abduction and human trafficking from occurring due to limited WHTI child travel documentation requirements for land and sea travel. There remains a significant amount of work necessary to enhance border security so that current weaknesses will no longer be available to be exploited. Our children must become a priority and the risk of abduction and human trafficking be lessened through mandating legitimate and uniform travel documentation.


The issues of child abduction and child slavery have received relatively limited public exposure. There has been limited government reaction directed toward changing public policy, government agency operations and protocol, and reform of laws that may facilitate or enable international abduction. It is important to recognize that over the past two years there have been over 1,000 ‘reported’ cases of U.S. child citizens being criminally abducted to Mexico and untold numbers of unreported cases. Imagine how our nation would act if:


1.     25 school buses containing 40 defenseless 5th grader American students disappeared in Mexico; or,

2.     4 Boeing 757 passenger jets containing 250 middle school children each was hijacked; or,

3.     A cruise ship with 1,000 high school students on a spring break trip was pirated off of Mexico’s borders; or,

4.     A train traveling with 1,000 students and their teachers was hijacked.

Undoubtedly, there would be public outcry and reform at every level. However, our public and government concern has not reached levels that it should. The many voices of this unthinkable crime tend to be diluted due to the singular reporting methodology. It is imperative that immediate revisions in law and government policy be initiated including reform of the WHTI land and sea travel requirements for minors.

One of the great challenges at-risk parents of international parental child abduction face is that the cruise ships do not presently have a centralized way of determining if a child embarking on their ship has a legal right to depart.  The United States does not have any exit controls. The only way a child could be flagged is if their passport is flagged.  However, if a child's travel documentation only requires presentation of a naturalization document such as a photocopy of a birth certificate, it is up to targeted parents to contact the security departments of each potential cruise ship a child may be put on and request that the cruise ship company review its reservation manifests.

The WHTI may in fact have many benefits, including ease of travel; however, there are many problems, one of which is putting our children at risk of abduction.

Peter Senese: Honesty and Intergrity Before Family Courts Overseeing A Child Must Be Enforced

As the rapidly expanding malignant tentacles known as international parental child abduction cruelly grasp at defenseless innocent children in countries around the world it is imperative that governments everywhere defend against this malice by passing and upholding local and national child abduction prevention laws. Critically, lawmakers must create abduction prevention laws while law enforcement and the judiciary must carefully uphold these laws that were created to protect innocence: our children.

As the vast majority of individuals around the world who advocate for targeted children will testify to, the most crucial component needed to fight the global war of international parental child abduction – and make no mistake: it is a war – is for child abduction prevention laws to be created and fully enforced.

Unfortunately, one of the heartbreaking issues that targeted parents face today is the great challenge and difficulties of having a court actually uphold new laws pertaining to risk factors associated with a potential child abduction. Judicial ignorance can no longer be an unspoken acceptable truth, and Lady Justice must remove her blindfold in the name of defending a child at risk of the horrific crime of parental kidnapping.

Lady Justice, hundreds of thousands of children each year targeted for cross-border criminal abduction need you to see. Today.

Before I go further, I will share an opinion many other targeted parents of abduction I have spoken to share with me: If a court handling a potential child abduction case establishes a zero tolerance policy toward any form of perjury, then the chicanery and intended fraudulent actions of a parent intending to mislead the court and abduct a child may actually be re-considered. A pretty simple policy: if you lie to the court, particularly when it comes to a child’s welfare, then you better be prepared to pay the consequences for your action: sitting in a cell for a period of time and losing your access privileges to your child that you previously may have been entitled to.

Presently, I am voluntarily assisting in several potential abduction cases, including a few cases that are located in the State of Florida. For those of you who may not be aware, on January 1st, 2011 Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ that was drafted by child abduction prevention advocate and my good friend, Carolyn Vlk, became law. The law mandates judges to assess risk factors associated with a potential international child abduction and issue orders that will protect the targeted child and parent from a possible abduction.

However, in certain cases to which I am familiar with, there have been notable failures by the courts to fully utilize the new child abduction prevention law and carefully consider risk factors associated with a potential abduction as has been mandated under the new law.

Tragically, when a judge fails to uphold any child abduction prevention law, they have broken their fiduciary responsibility to protect a child. Equally, when a court fails to consider the criteria established under the new law, they are sending the worst type of message possible: that child abduction prevention laws mean nothing and would-be abductors will not be held accountable for their conspiracy to criminally abduct a child. And this – particularly when it comes to our children – is unthinkable.

The bottom line in weighing risk factors for a court is that a judge must ask this rather simple questions to themselves: ‘What if I am wrong and the child disappears? What true recourse does the targeted parent have to recover the child?”

Well, any knowledgeable judge will know that once a child is removed from their local jurisdiction and taken to another country, the jurisdiction of their court ceases to exist for all intensive purposes. Now jurisdiction belongs to the international courts, so long as the arriving country (the country where the child was illegally taken to) participates in an international treaty such as the 'Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction'. Regrettably, too many nations, including most Asian and Middle Eastern countries are not members of the Hague Convention, while other countries such as Mexico and Brazil are known to not uphold the international treaty they freely signed.

Truly, attempting to navigate an international parental child abduction is like ‘Chasing The Cyclone’.

Consider this: presently there are approximately 230 American children criminally detained in Japan due to a parental kidnapping. Japan is not a member of the Hague Convention. No American child-citizen abducted to Japan has ever been returned. Ever.

Or perhaps a judge should consider the difficulties that a targeted mother would face if her child were kidnapped to Saudi Arabia or any other Middle Eastern country. The prospect of mom safely bringing their child home is near non-existent.

So what exactly is it that a judge must do?

Act prudently at all times and in all circumstances while carefully investigating every aspect of each unique case. Additionally, the court must realize that for many, the international courts are extraordinarily difficult to navigate, that is, if a venue really even exists for a targeted parent to attempt to seek judicial intervention.

One component not often spoken about when considering risk factors is when a parent who may abduct files a (false) police report against the other parent. In scenarios such as this, the court must be mindful that international parental child abduction is a premeditated and well-planned act against both the abducted child and the left behind targeted parent, and that the parent planning an abduction is more than likely familiar with the international laws available to them that they may use to sanction their disobedience before the court.

Specifically, Article 13 of the Hague Convention reads:

Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, the judicial or administrative authority of the requested State is not bound to order the return of the child if the person, institution or other body which opposes its return establishes that –

a) the person, institution or other body having the care of the person of the child was not actually exercising the custody rights at the time of removal or retention, or had consented to or subsequently acquiesced in the removal or retention; or

b) there is a grave risk that his or her return would expose the child to physical or psychological harm or otherwise place the child in an intolerable situation.

The judicial or administrative authority may also refuse to order the return of the child if it finds that the child objects to being returned and has attained an age and degree of maturity at which it is appropriate to take account of its views.

In considering the circumstances referred to in this Article, the judicial and administrative authorities shall take into account the information relating to the social background of the child provided by the Central Authority or other competent authority of the child's habitual residence.

When a parent who is believed to be a potential abductor files a police report against the other parent the court must consider the validity of the complaint and move with great caution because the potential abductor may have now created a plausible but misleading defense under Article 13 of the Hague Convention that a return of the child back to the child’s country of origin may not be in the best interest of the child.

Thus, court’s must be especially mindful that if a parent is able to illegally depart the country of origin with the child, the difficulties of the targeted parent being able to legally return the child has grown exponentially. This said, the court’s must also consider if a complaint may be valid and act accordingly in the name of the best interest of the child.

The bottom line is this: we’re living in a multi-cultural society where individuals from around the world meet and have a child. At times, like in any other relationship, couples will separate or divorce. Unfortunately, too often the child of the partnership is used as a pawn in order to cause great hardship and pain to the targeted parent. International child abduction occurs, and is growing at substantial rates as shared in the report Carolyn Ann Vlk and I have published titled ‘Crisis In America: International Parental Child Abduction Today’. And most concerning is the fact that certain government policies such as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative have created loopholes for abduction (Click Here to read Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk's report)

Therefore in lieu of the rapidly growing epidemic now at hand, it is the courts and their sitting judges who offer children with their best defense so long as these judges do not put their head in the sand and mistreat the issues of a potential threat of abduction with an uneducated view of the seriousness of the matters at hand. In order for a court to fulfill its duty to the child-citizens they are obligated to protect, a judge must consider all the risk factors of a potential abduction and act swiftly, boldly, and with action that will secure the safety and welfare of both targeted child and targeted parent.

Perhaps the best overall indicator of an abduction threat is when a parent with strong ties to another country is found to be dishonest to or mislead the court during any matters when it comes to the welfare of a child. Perhaps if the courts upheld the integrity of the procedures before them, including holding a parent accountable for perjury or contempt, judges may be able to prevent the cruelty of storms from descending on a child. Perhaps each court hearing involving a child’s welfare should begin with a judge saying, “Welcome to my courtroom. I want both parties to know that if either of you act in any dishonest way or fail to obey my direction in any capacity, I will hold you in contempt of court. Now let’s proceed.”

For more information on international parental child abduction please visit Chasing The Cyclone. To visit Peter Thomas Senese's official website, please Click Here. To view Peter Senese's 'Chasing Parents: Racing Into the Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction' educational documentary film series please visit 'Chasing The Cyclone'.

Sono un 'Chasing superiore'

Io sono un genitore di inseguitori.

Sono un 'Chasing superiore' che è stato lasciato nella scia di criminali di mio figlio di sottrazione internazionale. È per l'amore che io porto per mio figlio, io sono pro-attivo e agire immediatamente con qualsiasi legge applicabile sono a mia disposizione, al fine di proteggere il mio bambino. Non mi darò pace fino a quando devo fare tutto quanto in mio mezzo per garantire la sicurezza di mio figlio e portare mio figlio a casa.

Sono una madre. Io sono un padre. Io sono una sorella. Io sono un fratello. E io sono figlio di qualcuno, troppo. Ma più di tutto, io sono un genitore devoto al mio bambino, che guarda a me per amore, conforto, guida e sostegno. Sono parte integrante dell'identità di mio figlio e il fondamento.

Come un 'Chasing Madre', mi sposto nella tempeste sconosciuto che circondano il rapimento di mio figlio. So che ci saranno molti Challanges che si trovano davanti a me. Non importa. Indipendentemente dalla gravità delle forze distruttive che io faccia, voglio sopportare tutto ciò che viene nel mio cammino, in nome di incondizionato amore che ho per il mio bambino.

Appoggio la Convenzione dell'Aia sugli aspetti civili della sottrazione internazionale di minori e di sollecitare tutte le nazioni, a prescindere dal fatto che hanno sottoscritto il trattato internazionale o non, di seguire e applicare rapidamente le norme di diritto stabilito dalla comunità internazionale.

Non accetto di essere conosciuto come 'Left Behind superiore'. Non permetterò l'atto criminale perpetrato su mio figlio a definire me. Io non sono 'lasciato' perché ho agire con la dovuta urgenza, in qualsiasi giurisdizione dove mio figlio potrebbe essere.

Sono in realtà un 'Chasing Parent', piena di speranza che, attraverso le mie azioni, io riunirsi con mio figlio innocente che è stato vittima l'atto di sequestro dei genitori. So che lo sconfinato amore che ho per il mio bambino mi guiderà come la caccia in tempeste. Porterò la mia bambina a casa.

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To visit the official website of Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas. Click Here.

To visit the official blogsite of Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas in English. Click Here.

To visit the official blogsite of Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas in Espanol. Click Here.

To visit the offiical blogsite of Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas in Frances. Click Here.