Interview With Carolyn Ann Vlk, Florida's Child Abduction Prevention Act bill author.

An Interview with Carolyn Ann Vlk, Author of Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill.

Carolyn Ann Vlk is the author and writer of Florida’s Child Abduction Prevention Act bill. If the legislation becomes law, thousands of children and their parents in the state of Florida will be thankful that a tenacious mother who was initially trying to protect her own son from being abducted had the brains and audacity to try and write a law that would not only protect her own child, but children everywhere in the state.

Today, Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ is moving swiftly toward becoming law. With two Senate Committees and one House Committee all voting unanimously for the bill’s passage into law, we were able to ask the tireless Carolyn Ann Vlk some important questions.

1. Florida's 'Child Abduction Prevention Act' bill is being referred to as potential landmark legislation if the bill is enacted into law. What can you tell us about this legislation?

This legislation is long overdue. When I first began researching child abduction I was shocked to find that most states, including Florida, had very little, if any preventative laws in place that would preempt abduction from occurring. It has been and continues to be my desire to set the State of Florida apart by creating laws that would protect our children, and by doing so, demonstrate Florida’s commitment to the safety of our children while also creating model legislation for other states to follow.

2. What is the present condition of parental child abduction in America?


The statistics are staggering. Approximately every three minutes a family member in our country abducts a child. The government and institutional reports state that there are approximately 380,000 parental abductions each year, though many individuals believe this number is much higher. So, child abduction is not a new problem, but it is a fast-growing one, nearing epidemic proportions. Yet, and despite the increases in both domestic and international parental abductions, preventative legislation has been slow in coming. I believe that a lack of education exists across the board, which only furthers the systems in place charged to protect the welfare of our children, from effectively doing so. Parents, attorneys, family court personnel, law enforcement officers, and policy makers have been uninformed, uneducated, and untrained in the areas of parental child abduction. Research is this area has not been forthcoming quick enough, either. This ignorance has served to empower potential abductors, who typically show little concern over the crimes they openly commit. I remain hopeful that change is imminent as we now have the attention of the people in this state and our lawmakers. We do have the ability to implement changes to better protect all children. Part of this change is Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’.

3. What would most readers be shocked to learn with respect to parental child abduction?

There are many things that stand out. That data from the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) indicates that a family member commits 78 % of all child abductions. Also, that nearly 70% of all law enforcement agencies do not have guidelines or the resources to respond to family abduction. Additionally, there are nearly 400,000 parental child abductions that occur each year. Of this total, it is believed that there are over 10,000 criminal international parental child abductions that occur each year. When considering those cases that are reported, you must keep in mind that some parents purposefully choose not to report, and that in some cases reporting is not allowed: for example, political asylum and dual-green card cases cannot file for a Hague application. In all international abduction cases the financial burden of the recovery of the abducted child falls solely on the left behind parent. And, in the cases of international abduction, many of these children never come home. Sadly, too many internationally abducted children have died due to this crime against our children. The fact is that parental abduction is a crime that is increasing dramatically each year, and there are few preventive laws in place that assess risk before it is too late.

4. What dangers does a child face when abducted internationally, and does this differ from a domestic abduction?

Any abduction, whether domestic or international, places a child in unnecessary danger. Children are often forced to assume a new identity and adjust to a new life away from everything and everyone that they have known. The abducting parent becomes a fugitive and thus, the child is forced to live a life on the run. The psychological damage that occurs to a child forced into this circumstance is immeasurable. I have now had the opportunity to have contact with adults who were abducted as children. All carry the scars of this abuse with them to this day. In speaking with them, I can tell you that the pain is still fresh some 20-30 years later. Living a life in hiding can also deny a child the right to an education, medical care, and lower their standard of living to the poverty level as the parent attempts to remain undetected. Parental alienation is real, and is to be expected. And even if the child is later returned, this type of damage can prevent a child from bonding with the left behind family. Unfortunately, in some of the most extreme cases, the abducting parent is so psychologically ill that the child is placed in circumstances where his or her life is in danger. These situations include being taken into countries where human life has little worth, being sold into the sexual slavery market or even being killed as a retaliatory action against the other parent.

5. For a parent who has had their child stolen from them by the other parent, are there significant differences between a domestic child recovery effort and an international child recovery effort?

The difficulties of locating, and the chances of a successful return become much more difficult and often times impossible once a child is removed from the United States. Locating a child abducted internationally is an extremely difficult task. The abducting parent has already planned well in advance and likely has assumed another identity along with the child. Essentially, they have the ability of going underground and then taking on a new identity. If you are fortunate enough to locate your child, you will then find that foreign governments are not required to abide by any civil order of the United States, and most do not. It becomes necessary to have legal counsel in both the United States and the country the child has been abducted to. This typically requires for the left behind parent to file a Hague Application – that is if they know where the child was taken to, and if that country is a signatory of the convention. Many nations, including most in the Middle East and Asia are not. Other nations such as Brazil and Germany do not uphold the spirit of the treaty they signed. And as you can imagine, the travel between the two countries, court costs and recovery expenses can quickly mount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more . . . and all this is at the expense of the parent who has been left behind. Precious few of these parents possess the resources necessary to become a Chasing Parent in an attempt to gain the return of a child criminally abducted out of the United States.

6. You are the author of Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill. Why did you set out to write this bill, and what is the likelihood that his bill will pass into law?

I am parent of a child at risk of international abduction. I began this journey in early 2007 in an effort to protect my own child. My husband had begun threatening to abduct our son and take him overseas, so I began researching ways to prevent that from happening. I opened a child abduction prevention case through the NCMEC and set out to learn everything I could about how to best ensure the safety of my child. As my knowledge increased, my caseworker at NCMEC began referring other abduction prevention parents to me. I began attempting to educate them and direct and connect them to resources and prevention methods. As I listened to their stories I was able to better understand where the system fails our children. I have learned that the family court systems needs to recognize the risk factors present for potential abductors and to implement the necessary safeguards. Since that I time, I have been actively advocating for change. The proposed legislation is the culmination of my efforts to achieve that goal.

Today, we are making steady progress towards improving the child protection law in Florida. I am pleased that the bill has passed unanimously through two committees in the Senate and the one House of Representatives committee. All indications are that the voices of those uniting together to plea for abduction prevention legislation are being heard.


7. Will this bill, if it becomes law, reduce the number of abductions in the state of Florida?

Absolutely! Proper risk assessment and the implementation of preventative measures in cases where a credible risk of abduction exists can drastically reduce the numbers of families lives impacted by the tragedy of child abduction. With nearly 400,000 reported cases in our nation alone, there is no question that this law will impact Florida, and hopefully, other states will then follow.

8. Representative Darryl Rouson is a known child activist and defender of children's rights. What is it like working with him as well as Senator Eleanor Sobel?


In July 2007 I sent out a very large number of letters to Florida politicians requesting assistance and/or advice on child abduction prevention measures. Representative Darryl Rouson was the only lawmaker who stepped forward, and expressed great concern over the information I shared with him and his legislative aid, Henry Moseley. Representative Rouson was shocked to learn just how severe and dangerous it is for children who face abduction. He suggested we work together to find a solution to this national tragedy by creating law that would allow the courts to assess risk factors associated with a potential child abduction, and further create laws that would allow a judge to address these threats. He has remained the strongest advocate for the children of our State, and his dedication and perseverance should be recognized and applauded by all. He is a true warrior in the fight for justice for those members of our society whose voices are often not heard, our children. I will forever remain indebted to him for his tireless efforts and staunch support as together we strive to implement this model legislation in the great state of Florida.

Once HB 787 was filed, Senator Eleanor Sobel stepped forward immediately with an offer to introduce it in the Senate as SB 1862. When we met for the first time I was immensely grateful to see that Senator Sobel shares the same type of commitment to protect our most vulnerable members of society: our children. Since that time, I have gotten to see just how compassionate and dedicated Senator Sobel is to the cause of children. She too is a warrior, and she is extraordinarily respected in Florida’s Senate. Without Senator Sobel’s leadership, the hope and promise that children will soon have laws in place that will protect them from abduction may not be the reality. It has been a pleasure to work with her and I have deep admiration for the work that she is doing to protect the children of our state.

9. Working on such a monumental piece of legislation surely requires a team effort. What can you say about your team?

I believe it would be difficult to ever duplicate a finer team as the individuals who are committed day-in and day-out on making Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ law. Unquestionably, each member of our core group possesses such passion and dedication to the cause of protecting children. And we each bring something different to the table in the way of expertise and experience. Our desire to correct the deficiency in existing laws is the common thread that inspires us all. I am humbled and appreciative for the effort that everyone has expended.

The assistance of Peter Thomas Senese, the author of the critically acclaimed ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, and the producer/narrator of ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms of International Parental Child Abduction’, to bring this legislation to the forefront of Florida’s legislators has been immeasurable. Peter Thomas’ professionalism, dedication, organization, commitment, and skills as a writer, speaker, filmmaker, and advocate has had a far-reaching effect. Whether it was sending a vast number of Florida’s lawmakers copies of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, or directing them to view the documentary film on abduction, ‘Chasing Parents’, or creating the bill’s website, or flying into Tallahassee to speak before our legislative government, or paying for airline tickets so other advocates can petition our Senators and Representatives, Peter Thomas Senese has been open, fully committed, and unselfish. His willingness to share his personal story as that of a chasing parent while recovering his own child has touched the hearts of many, including the legislators he has met or communicated with. I am eternally grateful for his dedication, his ability to educate our lawmakers by providing them with copies of ‘Chasing The Cylclone’ and creating the documentary ‘Chasing Parents’ – all have played a significant role in creating further understanding for our lawmakers. I deeply respect his commitment to assist with the implementation of a law that will prevent other families from experiencing the tragedy of child abduction. Peter Thomas Senese’ impact has been far reaching.

Ken Connelly, the author of ‘Throwing Stones’ has been completely committed to the cause of protecting children from the fate of parental child abduction – a tragic and terrible experience he and his brother faced as children. Ken’s willingness to fly to Tallahassee and advocate for this bill to become law has had a substantial and meaningful weight upon lawmakers as he was a victim of the exact type of crime this legislation is trying to prevent. Ken has provided lawmakers with copies of ‘Throwing Stones’ – his fascinating book on child abduction, while also directing them to ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into the Storms of International Parental Child Abduction’ he consulted on. His ability to share the tragedy of abduction while also pointing out how critical it is to have preventive laws in place in this state have been well-heard by our lawmakers. Unquestionably, his desire to educate others in all areas of abduction has been immeasurable, and this bill is that much closer to reality because of Ken’s outspoken advocacy. Ken is direct, honest, committed, and highly informed on all areas of child abduction. It is an honor and a privilege to work with him.

Captain William Lake is the loving father of a young girl who has been criminally detained and remains in Japan. It is now going on six years since Captain Lake’s daughter first started her journey into the world of abduction. Captain Lake has been a full and complete source of information – and through his testimony you can see and hear the sense of concern others have regarding child abduction – surely they do not wish to be in the shoes that Captain Lake and his family are presently in. Nevertheless, Captain Lake has demonstrated consistent unselfishness and commitment. He has come to Tallahassee on several occasions to testify before both the Senate and the House. He has spent endless hours meeting with legislators and their legislative aids, all in the name of protecting other children. I am most grateful to Captain Lake’s unmovable commitment to protect the children of our state.

Henry Moseley, Representative Darryl Rouson’s legislative aide has been a dynamo in Tallahassee. From the beginning, Henry recognized just how severe of an issue child abduction in our state and our country is, and how failure to have preventive laws in place only aids a would-be abductor. With this realization, Henry spent a great deal of time researching and understanding all the critical components of child abduction. And then armed with this knowledge, he has worked with great dedication and he has helped orchestrate this bill’s movement into both the House and Senate. Without Henry Moseley, I doubt this bill would have moved as quickly and as far along as it has. Henry Mosley is as hard-working as they come, is extraordinarily intelligent, honest, and committed to the welfare and best interest of the children of Florida.

So that’s our core team: one parent who has tried to protect her child from being abducted, one adult who was parentally abducted, one parent who presently has a child still missing, one parent who recovered their child, and one legislative aide, like the rest of us, who is committed to protecting our children.

10. Florida’s Child Abduction Prevention Act bill has had two Florida Senate committees pass the legislation unanimously, and, one House committee thus far has also unanimously passed the bill. What is next, and can we expect this bill to become law?

Next up is to be put on the agenda to be heard in the Senate in Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations. In the House we need to be heard in Policy Council and Criminal and Civil Justice Policy Council. In order to be heard we must be placed on the agenda. The public can help ensure that this occurs by contacting the Chairs of the Councils to inform them that child abduction prevention is an urgent and critical necessity for our state and is in the best interest of our children. I am confident that if we have the opportunity to be heard that indeed the Child Abduction Prevention Act can become precedent setting legislation.

11. What's at stake?

The lives of hundreds of thousands of children each year whose lives are forever interrupted and negatively impacted by this preventable crime.

12. Is there anything else you would like to add?

If ever there was a time when the children of our state needed the public to step up it is now. Please take a few minutes of your day to contact the Senators and Representatives and voice your opinion regarding the critical nature of implementing this legislation. Think of your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors. No one is immune from this crime as it crosses all racial and socio economic barriers. Please unite with us and let your voice be heard and help us to prevent this heinous crime.

Florida ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ Support Swells As State Lawmakers Realize Prevention Is Critical To Best Interest Of Children

Two Senate Committees and One House Committee have all voted unanimously to pass the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill.


Representative Marcelo Llorente, the Chairman of Florida’s House of Representatives’ Policy Council, is a compassionate advocate for children’s rights and their safety. As House Bill 787 and adjoining Senate Bill 1862 continue to gain unilateral bipartisan support in both of Florida’s legislative bodies, as best indicated by three unanimous committee votes of support (two in the Senate and one in the House), it is becoming clear lawmakers in Florida are demonstrating great leadership in advancing model legislation that would preempt the growing number of parental child abductions that occur in the state each year.

Next up for this promising legislative bill that would provide courts the ability and responsibility to consider risk factors associated with a potential parental child abduction, and, the ability to implement protocols and remedies that would preempt these criminal acts against children from occurring, is child advocate Chairman Llorente’s Policy Council. It is anticipated that Chairman Llorente, a rising star in Florida’s political arena who has aspirations to be elected the next mayor of Miami in 2011, will agenda Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ in the coming days. Throughout his impactful political career, which included being elected one of Florida’s youngest lawmakers ever, Representative Llorente has demonstrated a long history of acting for the best interest of children in the state.

Florida resident and one of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill’s lead supporters, Captain William Lake, has been fighting desperately for nearly six years for the legal return of his young daughter who was criminally abducted to the international child abduction safe-harbor nation of Japan said, “April 11th will be my daughter’s 13th birthday. Over six years of her life have been stolen from the two of us. I am both sad that this bill wasn’t around to help me and happy that the passage of this into law will help prevent this kind of theft happening to any other parent and victimized child. As the plague of divorce sweeps across our nation, it’s time for the family courts to realize that the best interest of the child is just that: the best interest of the child. This bill will safeguard our children’s safety and their inalienable rights to the love of a parent who is desirous and capable of providing nurturing love and support back to that child.”

Carolyn Ann Vlk, the indefatigable Floridian mother from St. Petersburg who has written the model legislation after realizing the state of Florida had limited laws that would assist in preventing her child from being internationally abducted by the child’s other parent after repeated threats made to do so said, “It is undeniable that all children should be guaranteed the right to protection from abuse, harmful influences and exploitation. The unanimous approval the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ has received at both the Senate and the House levels illustrates that the policy makers of Florida agree. I remain hopeful that SB 1862 and HB 787 will soon become model legislation that can be utilized by other states to create or improve their child abduction prevention laws. We ask that you recognize our children’s often silent voices and contact your legislators today in support of this critical legislation.”

‘Chasing The Cyclone’ author and the producer/narrator of ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ Peter Thomas Senese added, “It is common sense that preemptive action against any hardship may lead to a dramatic reduction or end all-together that hardship. In medicine, it is demonstrated and accepted that preemptive healthcare and healthy lifestyles reduces illness. In this same light, preemptive child abduction laws would dramatically reduce the number of crimes against both child and targeted parent. This is a common-sense bill for all involved, and the likely cost savings to the state would be substantial due to a reduction of resources allocated for court and law enforcement expenditures related to an actual abduction and the ensuing recovery efforts. Not mentioned is the massive – not substantial – but massive amount of money Chasing Parents who race across international borders would save when they attempt to rescue and bring safely home their child. Unfortunately, on international cases of child abduction, the victimized parent is on their own financially as there are limited government resources available to assist them in bringing their child home – even though these types of abductions typically break both state and federal law. Imagine that: your child is criminally stolen to a foreign country, and if you don’t have the financial resources to fight the fight, in more likelihood, you’ve lost your child. Now consider your child is stolen and taken outside of the country by the other parent, but you have no idea where the child is. Well, at that point, unless you privately raise an army to find your child, you will never see that son or daughter again. So, with great enthusiasm, I am very pleased to know that the lawmakers of Florida are listening to the voices of both abducted children and parents affected by the crime of abduction who have worked tirelessly to have this bill passed into law. The ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ is unquestionably in the best interest of the children of Florida. Finally, on a personal note I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the bill’s sponsors, Representative Darryl Rouson and Senator Eleanor Sobel, for their hard work and demonstrated leadership in their endless advocacy for children.”

Charles Hamilton, a Chasing Parent said, “My child was illegally internationally parentally kidnapped in December 1996 to Spain during a divorce in which the courts were alerted by me with substantial evidence that my former spouse was about to abduct my child. This included evidence of two one-way airline tickets in the name of my spouse and child. Unfortunately, the Spanish Embassy in Los Angeles issued my former spouse new passports, which made it very easy for my former spouse to steal my daughter, Dakota Carmen Hamilton. If preventive laws existed at the time, I am sure that the love of my life, my daughter, would not have been criminally abducted. Florida’s law is critical for the children of the state.”

Florida resident and writer of the groundbreaking Synclair-Cannon California state child abduction prevention law observed, “’The Child Abduction Prevention Act’ aims at hindering an escalating crime that victimizes thousands of children each year in Florida. Courts and legal experts concur that parental abduction is child abuse, yet the court system often ignores the blatant red flags of parental kidnappings. Because of the preemptive measures that HB 787/ SB 1862 offers, I believe Tallahassee has the answer to reduce the number of children illegally pulled away from their homes by giving the courts proper direction on how to stop this crime. This House and Senate bill must become law.”

According to various government and private institute reports, it is estimated that slightly under 400,000 parental child abductions occur in the United States each year. Of this, it is anticipated that nearly 10,000 international cases occur, many of which are not reported or accounted for.

Parental Child Abduction is a crime against innocent, defenseless children that are reliant upon laws in each state to protect their safety. The Florida ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, if passed into law, will guard against child abduction in the state.

The children’s advocates and lawmakers who support this bill urge you to sign the petition in support of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’. It can be found at www.floridachildabductionpreventionact.info

Child Abduction Prevention Act bill passes Florida Senate's Judiciary Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26th, 2010

Tallahassee



Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Crucial Senate Judiciary Committee. Momentum Grows For Bill’s Passage Into Law.



Hope grows for tens of thousands of children in Florida and hundreds of thousand of children in the nation as Florida Senate’s Judiciary Committee supports the Child Abduction Prevention Act bill.

After traveling 3,000 miles from Los Angeles, child advocate, successful Chasing Parent, producer and narrator of the ground-breaking documentary film ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’, and the author of the highly anticipated book publication ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ Peter Thomas Senese said after his impassioned testimony before the Florida Senate’s Judiciary Committee, “Today, I am extraordinarily pleased with the Florida Senate’s Judiciary Committee’s overwhelming decision to boldly share with the citizens of Florida, and for that matter, the world, that lawmakers in this great state are serious about preventing the intolerable, cruel, and at times deadly crime of parental child abduction hundreds of thousands of our defenseless and innocent child-citizens must painstakingly endure each year, that is of course, if they are lucky enough to survive their kidnapping all together. Under today’s exemplary leadership of Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Joe Negron, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill was passed unanimously (9 Yeas and 0 Nay’s).

“Unquestionably, SB1862 and the House’s adjoining bill HB787, if passed into law, will provide courts and judges mandated with the responsibility to protect our children’s welfare and safety with the opportunity to consider apparent risk factors that are indicative that a parental child abduction is either planned or in progress, and, it further provides ways courts may act in order to preempt the criminal abduction of an unsuspecting, defenseless child from their targeted parent. Additionally, this bill, when passed into law, will place accountability onto the courts and its judges. No longer will the pleading voices of Florida’s citizens who come to court urgently seeking a judge’s assistance related to a planned or in progress abduction fall on deft ears. If this bill becomes law, everything changes.

“As a loving and committed father who extensively searched for my own child in multiple countries and who successfully litigated in several foreign jurisdictions, I cannot express how critical it is for preventative laws to be passed and upheld everywhere. Today, the state of Florida demonstrated great national and global leadership. On this note, I would like to personally thank the bill’s sponsor, Representative Darryl Rouson, who has worked tirelessly and stood unbowed in his campaign not only to educate the state’s other esteemed lawmakers about the growing worldwide epidemic that destroys many of the lives who cross its path, but to earnestly protect the lives of our children everywhere.”

Carolyn Ann Vlk, a remarkable mother desperately trying to prevent the international abduction of her own child, and, the critical bill’s author provided the Senate’s Committee testimony from the perspective of a parent attempting to prevent their child from being stolen overseas. Ms. Vlk said, “I am immensely pleased that the Florida Senate and House of Representatives members are realizing that child abduction prevention law is a necessity in the name of our children’s best interest. In today’s Senate Judiciary Committee’s unanimous vote to move the bill through committee, it is clear that our lawmakers are realizing the necessity of this bill.”

Child Advocate Representative Darryl Rouson, the House bill’s sponsor remarked, “I am extremely pleased with today’s Senate Judiciary Committee passage of the Child Abduction Prevention Act bill. Obviously there is more work to do; however, it is becoming clearer by the day that my fellow lawmakers realize just how critical this bill is for all children residing in the state of Florida. Unquestionably, when the Child Abduction Prevention Act becomes law, the safety of our children in this state will increase substantially. And that, our children’s safety, is what this is all about.”

Senator Eleanor Sobel, the Senate’s sponsor of the SB1862 stated today at the hearing her satisfaction with the committee’s passage of the bill.

It has been reported by various United States Government records that there are nearly 400,000 parental child abductions that occur each year. Various studies indicate that there exists hundreds of thousands more than what has been accounted for. Of this total, it is unofficially estimated that there are over 10,000 criminal international parental child abductions each year. Due to incredible hardships faced by Chasing Parents left behind in the wake of their child’s abduction, too many of this nation’s stolen children are never returned. Common difficulties Chasing Parents encounter include the mountainous and complete financial burden a parent faces in attempting to rescue their child even though child abduction is a federal and state crime. In addition, since most of these types of abductions are well planned and schemed, many abducted children literally disappear with their abducting parent. Notwithstanding, many nations who are signatories of the Hague Convention do not uphold the spirit and law of the treaty to which they signed while other nations have not signed any international agreement at all.

If Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ becomes law, it is anticipated that a significant number of would-be abductions would be prevented, and financial relief would occur for an already financially strained legal system.

For more information on parental child abduction, please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com

Florida's House Bill 787 Advances: Hope Spreads For Children

The State of Florida’s legislatures are voicing their grave concern over the growing criminal epidemic that is known as parental child abduction.

Today in Tallahassee, the House of Representative’s Committee on ‘Public Safety And Domestic Security Policy’, led by Committee Chairman Kevin Ambler, voted Unanimously on child advocate and House Representative Darryl Rouson’s House sponsored bill known as ‘The Child Abduction Prevention Act’ (HB787).

The next step for this critical legislation is for the bill to now be placed on the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Committee Chairman Senator Negron is anticipated to place SB1862 before the Judiciary Committee in the upcoming weeks. Two weeks ago, the ‘Senate’s Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee’s unanimous vote of eight ‘Yeas’ and zero ‘Nays’ in support of passing the proposed act that defines risk factors related to a potential parental child abduction, and offers remedies that the Florida courts should consider when dealing with a potential parental child abduction.

Senator Eleanor Sobel is the Senate’s sponsoring legislature of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’.

Representative Rouson has worked tirelessly in trying to bring to light the hardship innocent children-victims must endure in the wake of a parental abduction. In sponsoring the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’, Representative Rouson has made it clear that children shall no longer be used as pawns to inflict abuse by the act of one parent criminally abducting a child against court orders from the other parent.

Carolyn Ann Vlk, the author of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’, stated today, “By identifying risk factors and preventative measures of abduction, it will be possible to reduce the number of families touched by the tragedy of child abduction. I am pleased by the committee’s unanimous decision to move this important legislation forward so we may finally protect Florida’s children and families. We as a group have worked very hard at trying to educate others about the seriousness of this growing problem. It appears that our voices are being heard. I hope that one day soon, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ will be passed into law, and the great state that I live in will send a message of intolerance to all those who chose not to act in the best interests of our children. Parental Child Abduction is a serious and grave crime against both child and Chasing Parent. It is not to be toleratred.”

Representative Darryl Rouson, the guiding legislative force behind the bill said today, “This is a common sense bill that passed unanimously because it strengthens protection for our vulnerable children and worried parents. We are overjoyed that more abductions will be prevented. There is more work to be done; however, I am confident by the clear vote today that my fellow lawmakers in the wonderful state of Florida will realize how critical this bill is in the name not only of our children, but by passing this bill into law, a message of leadership and intolerance will be heard across the country. No child should be abducted if we can prevent this crime from happening. ‘The Child Abduction Prevention Act’ will stop many abductions.”

Captain William Lake, who also appeared before the House Committee guided by Representative Kevin Ambler said, “I am excited by the actions of the committee members today, and I will be returning to Tallahassee over the next month to make sure this good bill is signed into law. It is satisfying that the issues of education and prevention are coming into light. It is only through preventive laws that we will see a dramatic reduction in this crime against our children.” Captain Lake is a Chasing Parent who presently has a child who was criminally abducted to the non-Hague signatory country of Japan; a country known as a safe-harbor for child-abductor nationals. Today, Captain Lake continues to fight the fight needed to bring his child home.

Peter Thomas Senese, the author of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ and producer of the documentary film ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms of International Parental Child Abduction’ added, “Today, a clear call to arms was heard in Florida’s legislature that child abduction will not be tolerated. I applaud my friends Carolyn Ann Vlk, Ken Connelly, and Captain Lake in their efforts to educate others of this serious crime. It is through our efforts as advocates of children that our experienced concern and understanding awakened the righteous hand of lawmakers, who are mothers and fathers, and children too. I commend Representative Kevin Ambler for his superior guidance today at the ‘Public Safety And Domestic Security Policy’ committee level. And unquestionably, Representative Darryl Rouson’s tireless and completely committed willingness to have this bill passed into law says so much about his willingness to protect the children of the state. Up next, are two more committees: one in the House and one in the Senate. But it is becoming clear: the citizens of Florida and its policymakers will no longer tolerate child abduction. There is great leadership coming out of Florida in the name of protecting our children. And the world today is not only watching, but it is applauding.”

Florida HB787 Moves Forward To House Committee. Lawmakers and Advocates Press For Child Abduction Prevention Laws in Florida

St. Petersburg, Los Angeles, New York

MARCH 16th, 2010



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Lawmakers in Florida’s Legislature Move Forward On ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ Bill As A Growing Number Of Citizens Express Intolerance Of Acts Of Parental Child Abduction.

Florida’s legislature is moving forward on a strong parental child abduction prevention bill as lawmakers in the state and across the country have come to realize the unmistakable immediate necessity to place protective laws against abduction in order to protect the hundreds of thousands of defenseless children who are criminally stolen and abused.

The ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ (CAPA) bill, known in the Florida Senate as SB1862 and in Florida’s House of Representatives as adjoining bill HB787, if passed, will amend Florida Statute §61.45 by adding certain risk factors of child abduction and provides a list of preventative measures a judge may use to prevent these abductions from occurring. Inclusion of these provisions will strengthen Florida’s weak law and bring it into conformity with the ‘Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act’ (UPACA), which has been enacted by ten states. In a nation where there are over 370,000 parental child abductions that occur each year, a number that apparently is growing, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ clearly will prevent the number of abductions within the state of Florida, if passed.

The bill was filed by children’s advocate and champion Representative Daryl Rouson, and has been referred to Florida ’s House of Representatives ‘Public Safety and Domestic Security Policy Committee’. Representative Rouson has demonstrated throughout his career a willingness to take great initiative to assist children.

Representative Kevin Ambler, who heads the ‘Public Safety and Domestic Security Policy Committee’ is no stranger to the family law issues. A portion of Representative Ambler’s law practice focused on family law and children’s welfare. Representative Ambler has placed the bill on his committee’s hearing schedule for Tuesday, March 23rd. The hopes and safety of hundreds of thousands of children in the state who may one day be at risk now rest on Representative Ambler’s ‘Public Safety and Domestic Security Policy Committee’, and the committee chairman’s advocacy for innocent, defenseless children who are at risk of abduction.

Peter Thomas Senese, the author of the critically acclaimed upcoming book ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ and producer of the documentary film ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into the Storms of International Parental Child Abduction’ stated “Representative Ambler and the rest of the committee members have a very unique and exciting opportunity to make in immediate and long-lasting impact in Florida state law in the name of the best interest of children next week by passing through committee the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill. I speak from personal experience when I say that if preventive laws, including a court’s ability to weigh and assess risk factors associated with potential parental child abduction did exist, I would not be speaking out on this issue the way I am. Unfortunately, that is not the case. But there is hope in Florida, and it now rests on Representative Ambler’s shoulders to demonstrate leadership for our children by passing this critically important bill.”

On Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 the State of Florida took a major first step in protecting that state’s children from the horror of parental child abduction. In a bill sponsored by Senator Eleanor Sobel, a unanimous vote of eight ‘Yeas’ and zero ‘Nays’ occurred before the Florida State Senate’s ‘Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee’, the Senate moved through its first committee the critically important ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’. The Senate’s next step is to have the bill voted on by its ‘Judiciary Committee’, which should happen in the forthcoming weeks. If the bill passes a Judiciary Committee vote, it will then move forward to the ‘Civil Justice Appropriations Committee’, before a final vote before the Senate.

In order to bring awareness of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill now before Florida’s lawmakers, a group of children’s advocates familiar with parental child abduction, including Carolyn Ann Vlk, Ken Connelly, Peter Thomas Senese, Larry Synclair, Charles Hamilton, Bryan Lee McGlothin, Tammy Searle, and Barbara Mezo have urged lawmakers to pass this much need bill. The group has created an informative website, including a petition site, that addresses the proposed ‘Act’ (www.floridachildabductionpreventionact.info).

Carolyn Ann Vlk, the author of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill now before the House and Senate stated, “Please carefully consider what we are attempting to implement. In my humble opinion the biggest obstacle we face is a lack of education across the board . . . parents, judges, family court personnel, and policy makers. This deficiency has served to empower potential abductors and compromises the safety of children. Without risk assessment in determining where a credible risk exists, decisions are made that could place a child in unnecessary danger. Parental child abduction is a national tragedy and an immediate remedy is necessary. Please join us in our efforts to protect our most vulnerable members of society - our children."

Floridian resident Larry Synclair, the author of our nation’s first state preventive laws (California) adds, “HB 787 illustrates the need to prevent parental abduction and other states should take similar action. When I sat down to research and write the draft of a bill that would later become the Synclair-Cannon Act, I felt compelled to close gaps in a state’s legal system that allowed children to fall into the hands of abducting parents. California saw the need for the bill and quickly incorporated it into their family code. Today, parents from other states have boldly stepped up to demand laws that will protect their children from this horrific crime that is often ignored by judicial officials. Florida’s HB 787 calls for an implementation of measures that could hinder future acts of abduction. Children need more legislation like this to protect them from this escalating crime."??

Charles Hamilton, left-behind parent of Dakota Carmen Hamilton, stated that “If the ‘Synclair-Cannon Parental Child Abduction Prevention Act’ or a California version of Florida’s HB-787 had existed when my daughter was stolen, the courts would have been armed with the evidence to prevent my daughter’s kidnapping to Spain on December 8, 1996. Failure to sign HB 787 into law will only allow more children in Florida to become victims of this horrible and preventable crime just like my daughter.”

Tammy Searle, a left-behind parent and children’s advocate, now fighting desperately for the return of her daughter is a strong advocate of the present bill and intends to provide the House with testimony next week, along with many of the other children advocates.

Bryan Lee McGlothin, author of ‘Have You Seen My Mother: True Story of Parental Abduction’ stated it best, by reminding the citizens of Florida that "Children have rights and those rights include having both parents in the child's life.”

??Collectively, Florida’s lawmakers and advocates pass urge the citizens of Florida to contact their local representatives and urge them to support the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ now before its legislative body.

“The reality is that none of us who speak out on this issue would be doing so if we did not experience first-hand the nightmare of child abduction. Truth is, most of us didn’t even know what parental child abduction was, or just how severe of a crime this is against our children,” Peter Thomas Senese added. “I personally urge every lawmaker to stand behind Representative Rouson and Senator Sobel’s initiative and draw a line in the sand, so to speak, in the name of protecting our children.”

International Parental Child Abduction Prevention: The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program.

The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program.

The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is one of the Department Of State's most important tools for preventing international parental child abduction. The program allows parents to register their U.S. citizen children under the age of 18 in the Department’s Passport Lookout System. If a passport application is submitted for a child who is registered in CPIAP, the Department contacts and alerts the parent or parents. The passport lookout system gives all U.S. passport agencies as well as U.S. embassies and consulates abroad an alert on a child’s name if a parent or guardian registers an objection to passport issuance for his or her child. This procedure provides parents advance warning of possible plans for international travel with the child.

However, the United States government does not have exit controls at the U.S. border. The U.S. government does not check the names or the documents of travelers leaving the United States. If your child has a valid passport from any country, he or she may be able to travel outside the United States without your consent.

So, if you have concern that your child may be taken out of the country without your consent via a foreign passport that you may or may not know was issued, you must immediatly seek an Emergency Hearing before your court of local jurisdiction, and present strong and valid evidence to the court demonstrating the high risk of abduction, and then seek that court to seize the foreign passport issued in your child's name. You must also request for the court to issue an order to the nation (via their U.S. embassy) to which your child may have duel citizenship, and provide notice that a court matter is ongoing, and that the court orders for no foreign passport is to be issued in the child's name. Some embassys will comply with this order, and others may not. However, it is critical for you to control all passport issues if you have even the slightest of concern that an international abduction may occur.

I also want to point out that many Middle Eastern countries and their embassies do not require for a mother/wife's signature when requesting a passport for a child. Thus, it is even more critically important for a woman/mother to seek immediate court assistance in the event that abduction concern is directed toward a Middle Eastern country.

So if you have any type of concern, you must not stick your head in the sand. You must act, and act immediately.

The Charleston Passport Center, which is part of Passport Services, is responsible for administering CPIAP.

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services, Charleston Passport Center
Attn: Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
1269 Holland Street, Building D
Charleston, SC 29405

E-mail: ChildrensPassports@state.gov
Phone: 1-888-407-4747
Fax: 843-746-1827


Who can request a child be entered into CPIAP?

Entry Request Form

Usually a parent requests that his/her child or children be entered into the program. Sometimes both parents will separately submit a request. Requests may also be submitted by law enforcement or a court, or someone acting on behalf of a parent, such as an attorney, a member of Congress, or another family member. All requests for entry of a child into the program must be in writing and signed.

It is not necessary for a parent to have any custodial rights to the child in order to request that the child be entered in CPIAP. So long as a parent has not had his/her rights terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction, he/she can request that the child be entered into CPIAP.

REMEMBER: Only U.S. Citizen children under the age of 18 can be entered into CPIAP.

Does entering a child's name into CPIAP always prevent a passport from being issued?.

Entering a child's name into CPIAP does not guarantee that a child will not be issued a passport. The parent who requests entry of his/her child into the program may consent to issuance of the passport after receiving notification of the passport application. It is also possible for a passport to be issued to a child under 16 without consent of both parents (or legal guardian), if the applicant for the passport can establish that consent of both parents is not required under Federal law (22 CFR 51.28). A court order providing the applicant parent or guardian with sole custody of the child, or a court order specifically authorizing the applicant parent or guardian to travel with the child, for example, would allow the Department to issue a passport without the consent of another parent or guardian. This is true even if the child has been entered into CPIAP.

If a passport application is executed on behalf of a child entered into CPIAP, the parent who requested the alert will receive notification of the passport application and will generally receive 30 days to consent or object to issuance of the passport, absent extraordinary circumstances. However, if the applicant can demonstrate that he/she has sole authority to apply for a passport under U.S. law, the passport may still be issued at any time.

How Do I Enter My Child into CPIAP?

To enter your child into CPIAP, you must submit three items to the Department of State's Passport Services.

1. Completed Entry Request Form

2. Proof of Your Identy (Your driver’s license or other identity card)


3. Birth Certificate or Documentation that Shows Your Parentage/Guardianship (Hospital issued certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad)



E-mail, fax, or mail these three items to Passport Services, Charleston Passport Center (contact information above).

A child is automatically removed from CPIAP when he/she reaches the age of 18. In the event a parent wants to remove a child or children from CPIAP prior to reaching age 18, the parent must submit a photo ID and a notarized statement requesting the removal from the program. Only the parent or entity who requested the child’s entry into the program can request the child’s removal from the program.

IMPORTANT: It is very important that parents keep Passport Services informed in writing of any changes to contact information and legal representation. Failure to notify Passport Services of a current address may result in a passport issuance for your child without your consent.

What if my child already has a passport?

You may enter your child's name into CPIAP even if he/she already has a passport. This will allow the Department of State to notify you if Passport Services receives an application for renewal of the passport.

The Department may not revoke a passport that has already been issued to the child. There is also no way to track the use of a passport once it has been issued, since the United States does not have exit controls for people leaving the U.S. If your child already has a passport, and you fear the other parent may abduct your child from the United States, ask a court or your attorneys to hold it.

What if my child has a passport of another country?

Many United States citizen children who fall victim to international parental abduction possess dual nationality. While the Department of State will make every effort to avoid issuing a United States passport without the consent of both parents, the Department cannot prevent other countries from issuing their passports to children who are also their nationals. You can, however, ask a foreign embassy or consulate in the United States not to issue a passport to your child. Send the embassy or consulate a written request, along with certified complete copies of any court orders you have which address custody or the overseas travel of your child. In your letter, inform them that you are sending a copy of this request to the United States Department of State. If your child is only a United States citizen, you can request that no visa for that country be issued in his or her U.S. passport. Just keep in mind that no international law requires compliance with such requests, although some countries may comply voluntarily.

Acclaimed Author Peter Thomas Senese Releases Two Video Book Readings: The Den Of The Assassin, and, Chasing The Cyclone

After nearly four years from his last published book, the outspoken author and children’s advocate Peter Thomas Senese prepares for the publication of a series of novels and book reading videos now that he has safely navigated the treacherous road of international parental child abduction.


Author Peter Thomas Senese is pleased to announce the release of the first two narrative videos in a series of forthcoming installments based upon the author’s published written works. The initial video releases include the author’s insight and readings from ‘The Den Of The Assassin’ and ‘Chasing The Cyclone’. Both books are penned under Peter Thomas.

‘The Den Of The Assassin’


is an international financial espionage thriller steeped in the modern-day realities of our world, which provides the story a visceral prescience teeming with realism and frightful possibilities of global terrorism. The powerful, historical fiction story of Wall Street, weapons of mass destruction, rogue nations enriching uranium and an unassuming young banker named Tyler Boxter, will pull the reader into the dark and unknown world where words are seldom spoken, and code is the language of the unseen. ‘The Den Of The Assassin’ was initially published in hardcover prior to the author’s unexpected race into the cyclones of international child abduction. Since its limited publication, critics have raved that in ‘The Den Of The Assassin’, the author displays a wealth of knowledge of geopolitics, espionage, and international finance while keeping the reader wrapped in the pulsating action of the story. ‘The Den Of The Assassin’ will be released in June, 2010 in paperback.

‘Chasing The Cyclone’, written in the form of a novel, was inspired by the perspectives and views of Peter Thomas Senese as he navigated the long and treacherous road that led to his child’s safe return. ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ will be released in hardcover in May, 2010. Reviewers have praised the author as a writer of distinction, and ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ as a masterfully gripping story of a father’s love for his child, and a child’s belief in his father.

Peter Thomas Senese, a successful Chasing Parent, is committed to raising the public’s awareness of International Parental Child Abduction with the hope to increase dialog that will reform key issues in the areas of prevention, education, legal reform, and international accountability and participation of ‘The Hague Convention On The Civil Aspects Of International Parental Child Abduction’. The writer points out that there are over 200,000 parental abductions that occur in the United States alone each year, with thousands of these types of abductions occurring across international borders.

Peter Thomas Senese has recently produced a documentary titled ‘CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ that will be released in late Spring, 2010 in conjunction with the international release of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’. Educational previews of the documentary are available to view at the Chasing The Cyclone website (www.chasingthecyclone.com). The documentary will be given complimentary to all government institutions and agencies, as well as advocacy and outreach organizations involved with assisting abducted children and their Chasing Parents.

For more information on Peter Thomas Senese and to view the narrative readings of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ or ‘The Den Of The Assassin’, please visit www.petersenese.com or www.chasingthecyclone.com

Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction Provides Great Insight Into Worldwide Abuse Agains Children

For Peter Thomas Senese, the near four-year journey leading up to his upcoming international release of the documentary film titled 'CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction' has been one filled with a full array of great challenges and extraordinary accomplishments.

The film has two main goals. The first is to provide a blueprint for other Chasing Parents on what to do and how to act if their own child is internationally abducted. The second, and a more formidable goal,is to educate society on the grave issues surrounding international parental child abduction while providing insight on necessary legal reform that could help prevent the criminal international abduction of children.

The acclaimed author, who writes under the names Peter Senese or Peter Thomas, unexpectedly raced into the brutal and at times deadly storms, other Chasing Parents encounter in the wake of the international abduction of their defenseless child. For Peter Thomas Senese, the most difficult challenge he faced was coping with the concern over his child's safety while navigating the long and complex road he would have to endure in order to protect his young son. The triumphs, and there have been many, include first and foremost, what every Chasing Parent desires most: the safe recovery and return of their child.

'CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction' is one of the very first documentary films that extensively addresses the full scope of the massive, but seldom spoken crisis stolen children and their Chasing Parents left behind in the aftermath of the criminal abduction of their child must face. The film has two main goals. The first is to provide a blueprint for other Chasing Parents on what to do and how to act if their own child is internationally abducted. The second, and a more formidable goal,is to educate society on the grave issues surrounding international parental child abduction while providing insight on necessary legal reform that could help prevent the criminal international abduction of children.

Unfortunately, and tragically, there exists a growing worldwide epidemic that destroys the lives of most who cross its path, including innocent children, and its name is International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA). Each year, tens of thousands of children are abducted by one parent from another and taken across international borders without the knowledge and permission of the other parent. Many of these children never come home. Many disappear. Some are lost forever.

In the United States, it is believed that there are over 11,000 internationally criminally abducted children who have not been brought home. This number is believed to be significantly higher because it does not include a large number of cases not filed with the United States Central Authority due to either technicalities (previously including military personnel who were unable to file while living abroad, and presently including dual parent green-card holders, political asylum cases, etc.), or the prevalent feeling of hopelessness felt by many parents based upon the extremely high recovery cost, a complex legal maze, and belief that there exists nationalistic prejudices in foreign countries. This equates to the belief that it is nearly impossible to recover their abducted child.

The highly educational and eye-opening film consists of seven main segments: Part I - Introduction, Part II - Warning Signs, Part III - Abduction in Progress, Part IV - Parental Alienation and Child Abduction, Part V - Post Abduction Reunification, Part VI - Reform and Change, and Part VII - Laws and Credits.

The now completed production and upcoming release of this invaluable documentary is, for Peter Thomas Senese, the completion of a three-part educational project he promised to create once his journey of chasing the cyclones of international parental child abduction ended. They include the creation of a highly education website (www.chasingthecyclone.com), publication of a insightful book (titled 'Chasing The Cyclone'), and the now completed documentary. It is the Writer -Producer's hope and aspiration to increase local and global dialog concerning prevention, education, and accountability of all legal systems, institutions, and governments responsible to uphold laws pertaining to the welfare and safety of children.

The children's advocate, writing under his first and middle name, Peter Thomas, will release 'Chasing The Cyclone' in the late spring, 2010. Reviewers and critics are praising 'Chasing The Cyclone' as an extraordinary, masterfully written story of a father's love for his son, and heralding Peter Thomas Senese as a writer of great distinction. 'Chasing The Cyclone', written in the form of a novel, was inspired by the author's experiences as a Chasing Parent.

"Chasing The Cyclone will shake the audience, this exciting cautionary thriller grips readers from the onset ..." Amazon # 1 Reviewer, Harriet Klausner

"Peter Thomas now opens the windows on the magnitude of these tragedies in his excellent Chasing The Cyclone ... As if the fast paced energy of this story weren't enough to satisfy the reader, Peter Thomas demonstrates his quality as a writer of distinction on many levels ..." this impossible to put down book ... Amazon # 3 Reviewer, Dr. Grady Harp

"Chasing The Cyclone isn't just a powerful novel, it's a call to arms against a growing epidemic that is tearing lives apart ... a superb, can't put down novel, though; it is a book with a purpose ... Peter Thomas has become an outspoken advocate on this issue ... I would go so far as to encourage every loving parent to read this book, as the bond between this father and son is one to be emulated ..." Amazon # 14 Reviewer, Daniel Jolley

"Chasing The Cyclone is a must read. You will not be able to put it down. It may very well change the way you look at life, child custody ... I cannot endorse this book enough ..." The Examiner

"[In Chasing The Cyclone] Peter Thomas masterfully reveals the disturbing world of an abducted child ... Peter has taken the tragedy of his child's abduction and the remarkable efforts he implemented in order to reunite with his child, and worked not only to share it in a manner that seeks to educate the reader, but has embraced his experience to provide relief for other families caught in this global epidemic ..." Maureen Dabbagh: Parent International

Peter Thomas Senese fully supports The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Parental Child Abduction. However, as he points out in both Chasing The Cyclone and in CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction, the grave failures in the areas of research and education, combined with an inept global approach toward prevention, has taxed the international judicial system created via The Hague Convention. Extending the difficulties many Chasing Parents face is the fact that many nation-signatories of The Hague Convention fail to enforce the rules of the international treaty they signed. Additionally, many nations, including those in the Middle East and Asia have not signed the international treaty, which creates near-impossible hurdles for Chasing Parents seeking the lawful return of their abducted child from non-signatory nations. Accountability is critical, yet there appears to be limited accountability throughout the system. This is something Senese heavily weighs in on.

Segments of CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction are presently available for preview at Chasing The Cyclone's official website, www.chasingthecyclone.com.

Peter Thomas Senese points out that CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction was made possible due to other Chasing Parents, children of abduction, and leading government and private sector experts working in the area of IPCA's eagerness to contribute to this desperately needed film. Peter Thomas Senese also would like to express a special thanks to Mr. Ken Connelly, children's advocate, speaker, and author of 'Throwing Stones' for the substantial contributions he made toward the production and information conveyed in this film.

The filmmaker strongly points out that making this film would have been impossible if not for the assistance he received from key individuals at the U.S. Department of State - Office Of Children's Issues, Canada's Ministry of Attorney General, and New Zealand's Ministry of Justice when he was Chasing The Cyclone.

Pacifica and Peter Thomas Senese intend to offer complimentary DVD's of this film to all requesting government agencies and institutions, courts, educators, and organizations that provide outreach to child-victims and their families upon its release later this Spring. It is Peter Thomas Senese's hope that the film will be used as a resource tool that will increase awareness and educate others in order to bring about reform and change in the name of the best interest of children everywhere.

To preview CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com or www.petersenese.com.

Slander and Defamation: The Tools Of A Parental Child Abductor by Peter Thomas, author of Chasing The Cyclone

Many Chasing Parents throughtout the world know all to well one of the difficult techniques used by an abductor and the abductor's lawyers in order to break the spirit, will, and financial resources of the parent left behind in the wake of the criminal act that is international parental child abduction is to slander that person's name and reputation while implementing as many legal stall tactics as possible before the courts.

I write from personal experience: I am a Chasing Father who successfully recovered my child when he was abducted and taken half-way across the world.

Strategically speaking, nearly every lawyer who has represented a Hague case on behalf of a Chasing Parent will agree that it is critical to keep a narrow focus on whether a parent's custody rights were denied by the other parent in international cases, and by doing so, wrongfully detained the child from their rights of a child/parent relationship and purposefully breached the custody order of a previous court.

The primary purpose of The Hague Court is to determine if a right of custody was denied from a previous court order, and if so, to return the child and their abducting parent (this is done usually on a voluntary basis) to the court of original jurisdiction so the court of original jurisdiction can determine what is in the child's best interest, including matters of custody and visitation.

The test from the start is to ask the question: Did the abducting parent violate the custody laws of another court by removing the child from the country of original jurisdiction illegally and, by doing so, was there a denial of the Chasing Parent's legal rights of custody to that child?

Under this premise, The Hague Convention's Central Authority's court located in the country that the abduction has taken place will typically pay attention to the narrow focus and intent of the Treaty: was a previous court order regarding custody breached? If so (and there are no dangerous consequences to the child [the best interest of the child]), then typically the Hague Court will order for the child to be returned to his or her original jurisdiction.

But this is not always the case.

Section 13 of The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction reads:

Article 13

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.

This is the 'defense' Article, the mantra if you will, used by every abducting parent and their lawyer in order to defend against the act of abduction. Article 13 is always used to defend the serious criminal action of abduction by doing two things:

A) By attempting to create a picture to the courts and the public that returning the child to their original jurisdiction is in fact an act that will cause dire and unnecessary hardship to the child, and that such hardship is cruel and will have both short and long-reaching consequences for the child.

B) The abducting parent and their lawyer will attempt to portray the left behind parent in as much as an unfavorable light as possible. This typically includes a great deal of mud-slinging in court, whereas the abducting parent will make false accusations against the other parent including drug use, violence, abuse, non-interest, non-support, criminal behavior, sexual abuse, pedophilia, death-threats, etc.

Typically, these false statements will also find their way on the Internet, where, under any blog forum, a person can log on and write a scandalous statement or story under an assortment of alias names. They then follow-up that scandalous story or post with another alias blog post and essentially attempt to support the lie already posted on line.

And herein rests one of the great problems for the Chasing Parent: the Internet holds very little accountable. It is extremely difficult to have removed slander and defamatory statements under many websites own operating policies. Add in the fact that many slanderous remarks will be made under alias or anoynomous names, and you must now consider that Chasing Parent do not even have a clue as to where to begin to serve legal documents in order to have the defamation removed. In the end, the Chasing Parent's name and reputation are damaged, regardless of the court's final ruling.

It is noteworthy to point out that nearly every international parental child abduction that occurs is well planned out. So, if the Internet is going to be used to support false allegations that a would-be abducting parent intends to use in court as a means to defend against their act of criminal abduction - make no mistake about it - slander and defamation very well could begin before the actual abduction takes place.

The slander scheme supports the defense of Article 13 Subsection B of the Convention because the abductor's defense will be able to find 'public' support that demonstrates the Chasing Parent is in fact detrimental to the child's safety. Of course, proving this scheme before a court may be a whole other issue. Nevertheless, nearly every Chasing Parent is not immune to slander and defamation. Needless to say, it is in the best interest of the abducting parent and that person's advisors to do everything possible - including attempting to portray the Chasing Parent as a bad person - in order to defend agains their own criminal act of child abduction.

This is an Article 13 subsection A defense.

The reality for most Chasing Parents and their children victimized by the multiple crimes that surround and include international child abduction is that they do not have the financial resources necessary to fight the fight. Combine this with the abducting parent's attempt to beat-down the spirit of the Chasing Parent by a campaign of slander, not to mention the difficulties in fighting an international legal case, and you the conclusion is easy to make: Abducting Parents (who typically abduct a child in order to cause pain and suffering to the other parent), are unstable and dangerous - to both the abducted child and the Chasing Parent.

Written by,
Peter Thomas Senese
Author - Chasing The Cyclone (by Peter Thomas)
Producer - Chasing Parents: Racing into the storms of international parental child abduction (by Peter Senese)

CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction. A film produced by Peter Senese

I am pleased to announce the release of:

'Chasing Parents: Racing Into the Storms of International Parental Child Abduction'

What The World Needs To Know About International Parental Child Abduction

Written, Narrated, & Produced

by:

PETER THOMAS SENESE

To View This Film, Please Click Below:

CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction

The Examiner Interviews Chasing The Cyclone author Peter Thomas.

Peter Thomas sits down with Barbara Thompson of the Examiner to discuss international parental child abduction, parenting in a post-abduction enviornment, and his upcoming book Chasing The Cyclone. For more information about Peter Thomas' Chasing The Cyclone, please visit http://www.chasingthecyclone.com/.

A few years ago, Peter Thomas was blissfully unaware of the storm known as parental abduction. Since he shared joint custody with his ex-wife, he didn't have as much time with his son as he would have liked, but every minute they spent together was an adventure. The father and son enjoyed a bond that would be the envy of many custodial parents.

When Peter's ex-wife suddenly abducted their son and took him overseas, Peter's life turned upside down. He literally went to the ends of the earth to protect his son and their right to a loving relationship with each other.
Peter's book Chasing the Cyclone: A Father's Unending Love for his Son will be available in bookstores in September so I recently spoke with him about the book and the challenges that chasing parents face. The interview is long but Peter makes some very important points that all parents need to consider.

Examiner: I'm sure you know that the story you tell in Chasing the Cyclone is pretty unbelievable to the uninitiated. Is the book an accurate portrayal of your story?

Peter Thomas: Most international child abductions are pretty unbelievable to begin with. I think this all starts with the fact that many judges fail to enforce the laws that they are governed to enforce, fail to recognize that their court rulings do not have much meaning in a foreign land, that their court orders typically are not enforceable overseas, and most importantly, fail to recognize the signs or warnings that an international child abduction is imminent.

In Chasing The Cyclone, I essentially followed what I was familiar with. Whatever author liberties I may have taken in writing this novel, I did in order to keep the tempo of the story moving and to further demonstrate the very real truth that when a parent kidnaps a child, what they are doing is completely putting the child's life at risk. The fact is abducted children, their Chasing Parents, and Recovery Agents have been murdered. And in China, children are abducted at such an alarming rate...there are no words for it.

But most of all, I think what you're actually asking is whether the parental bond between my son and I was portrayed accurately, and did the judicial system in Canada actually fail to recognize the risk my son was being placed into. So in this sense, everything was portrayed accurately.

Examiner: If you could go back to 3-4 years ago, before all this started, what, if anything, would you do differently? What advice would you give to a parent who suspects that their child is at risk for abduction? What about the parents who believe "This can't happen to us"?

Peter Thomas: The one thing that stands out quickly is that I would have tried much harder to enforce the co-parenting time my son and I were awarded by the courts. Unfortunately, my decision [not to take my ex-wife to court to enforce the parenting time] was based on not wanting to cause turmoil in my son's life. Knowing that my son could possibly be the target of any action I would take against his mother, I refrained from doing so while always hoping that his mother would eventually start acting responsibly and follow the court's orders. This was a mistake.

What I did not know I was doing at the time was giving my son's mother essentially a green light to further disobey the laws we were both governed by. So if I would have done anything differently, and I URGE other mothers and fathers who are denied access to their child: under no circumstance should you allow for this to occur. In the United States and in Canada, the denial of a child to either of their parents as ordered by a court of law is, in fact, a criminal act of abduction. Seek help from the courts, and do not relent when access is denied.

Tragically, no person expects or could ever be prepared for their child to be internationally abducted. There are hundreds of thousands of parents around the world who can testify to this. Nobody expects it to happen to them. And then the next thing you know, you're looking into the most dangerous storms you could ever imagine.

So parents have to be mindful about the possibility of an international abduction, particularly when their is a separation or divorce, and one of the partners has strong ties or a desire to relocate to another country.
There are no fool-proof warning signs that your spouse or ex-spouse is thinking of taking your child across international borders, with or without your permission and knowledge. However, there are in fact many signs and signals that can provide you with insight that your spouse or former spouse is intending to abduct your child. Most of all, trust your instincts.

If you have reason to believe that your spouse is in the process or is contemplating the abduction of your child, you must not wait: contact your local police and a lawyer familiar with family law and custody matters. You may need to file an ex parte (an Emergency without notice filing) motion to the court of jurisdiction where the child lives, seeking court intervention prior to when the abduction or wrongful retention occurs. Under most laws, the judge will have to hear your application so long as you present enough strong and credible evidence that your spouse or ex-spouse is planning to take your child across state or international borders. I have put together a list of preventive tips for parents concerned about international parental abduction.

Examiner: If you could speak to a parent who is considering taking their child and going underground, either internationally or domestically, what would you say to that parent?

Peter Thomas: A child's heart is filled with innocence. It's open to give and to receive love, it is unmarked by the scars that etch themselves onto our personae, our fabric, if you will, as we journey through life. Their innocence is sacred.

Fundamental to the rights of ‘innocence' that all children are entitled to is the right of a child to freely know the love and goodness of both parents. As parents, it is our privilege to love our children, however, it is a child's right to know both of their parents' love. Sadly, we see all too often during times of divorce and separation the selfish and destructive act of a parent trying to remove and destroy a child's right to an open and loving relationship with the other parent by denying the child physical access to the other parent or by talking negatively about the other parent to that child. In these instances, the child is used as a pawn in a power struggle, and as a tool to punish or cause hurt to the other parent. Innocence is destroyed.
When either parent uses a child to cause hurt and pain toward the other parent, what they are doing is destroying the child's fabric. All loving parents should refrain from using a child in any matters that are between the two former partners.

Most importantly, if a parent is thinking about taking their child and disappearing either domestically or internationally, I have one very strong piece of advice: you greatly risk damaging your child's overall short and long-term mental health while also placing your child in grave physical danger. I strongly advise any parent thinking of this to dismiss any notion you may have that as long as your child is with you, your child is safe because you love your child. The fact is, your child has a bond to the other parent. Moreso, you do in fact place your child's physical safety in great jeopardy when you go on the run and disappear.

I also want to address something very important to me: I have two female family members who have been victims of serious and intolerable abuse, and so I can deeply empathize with any person who believes they need to flee from the other partner in order to prevent ongoing abuse to either themselves or their child from occurring. I really do empathize with all victims of abuse. Their situation is a perpetual living hell, and I can understand why a victim of abuse would want to run to the other side of the world in order to protect their and their child's life and safety. However, it is so important that any relocation is done legally. This means that an abused person who thankfully has realized that they will no longer tolerate abuse must take all legal action necessary within the child's legal jurisdiction in order to prevent the abuser from being a threat. Then, and if that person is still desirous of leaving the jurisdiction where the child was raised, they should follow the rules of law and seek a court's oder allowing them and their child to leave.

Finally, under no circumstance should any person illegally and criminally remove their child either domestically or internationally.

Examiner: Your decision to allow your son's mother to remain active in his life is admirable. How have you managed to put your own anger, fear, etc. behind you in order to facilitate a relationship between them? Given your diminished confidence in the courts, what measures would you recommend that a parent take in order to ensure a previously abducted child's safety?

Peter Thomas: None of it is easy. I still live with the daily concern that both my son and I are at risk. However, I had a decision to make, and it dealt with my child's rights. What I believed all along, and what I fought for, was that my son had the right to know the love of both of his parents. That includes me. And that includes his mom. So, in the end, it was his right to know the love of both me and his mother that I had to protect. Did I mention that none of this is easy? It is not easy, but we're both learning how to co-exist for our son's sake. We both realize the importance of this.

I think what we are both trying to focus on at this time in our life is raising our child to the best of our abilities. That is the most important issue. And I want to make this clear; I believe that my former spouse deeply loves our child the way that I do. And our child is greatly benefiting from receiving unencumbered love from the both of us. The whole process is a learning process; there is no blueprint available, but I think we're both trying our best for our son's sake.

Fortunately, I have been very blessed in my life and have been touched by two amazing individuals that have taught me about forgiveness. The first, and I do not want to dismiss this, is the lessons I have learned about forgiveness due to my Christian faith and the teaching of Jesus. The second individual who has guided me is my adopted grandfather, Rabbi Morton Kohn. He was an Auschwitz survivor who watched the majority of his family die in the camps. I never met a person who embraced love and forgiveness more than my grandfather. And so, I decided a while ago, that if he could learn how to forgive, so too would I.

And you know what, forgiving someone really is amazing. So it would be right to say that I have forgiven. But I have not forgotten.

On that note, the most important responsibility I have as a parent to my son is to ensure his safety. I have a responsibility to him to never allow him to go through what he did. The way I have done this is to have a keen awareness of all aspects of his life. I address this in further detail in my article Parenting in a Post-Child Abduction Environment.

Examiner: What would you like to say to the general public who believes that stories like yours (and David Goldman's, and Michael McCarty's, and so many others!) are anomalies. The people who believe that parental abduction is not really kidnapping and is no more than a custody dispute?

Peter Thomas: For anyone who thinks that the international parental abduction of a child is a minor matter closer to a child custody issue than the criminal act, the federal law titled The International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA) of 1993 makes it very clear that international parental child abduction is a serious and dangerous crime. Additionally, the federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP)-Parental Kidnapping law was created to allow for federal law enforcement to aid local and state law enforcement when state criminal charges are filed against an abducting parent (each state has criminal laws regarding parental child abduction).

The facts are that once a child is abducted, the amount of abuse directed toward the child is incredible. Acts of child abuse in the form of waves of parental alienation typically directed at the child by the kidnapping parent do deteriorate the child's identity and sense of self. The failure of the child from receiving their inalinable right of love from the Chasing Parent left behind may cause severe short and long-term physchological damage. And most importantly, there exists a grave danger that the child just might not survive the abduction experience.

So for anyone who thinks that parental kidnapping is a custody case, I ask you to imagine what your perception would be if your child was kidnapped outside of the country, and the only thing you know is that your child is gone, and you have no idea where your child is. Is it still a custody case? Absolutely not.

There is one other thing I want to mention here: if your child is abducted, you better have a whole lot of money because you're going to need it. The fact is that presently, there is limited financial support for Chasing Parents who are searching for their criminally internationally abducted child. The U.S. laws must change immediately. The act of international child abduction is both a state and national criminal act in the United States. Yet, only if it is a stranger-abduction will the full force and weight of the U.S. government be used to search for and attempt to bring the child home. The laws and the action related to the law are contradictory. Yet, I do not know of one government official, one child physchologist, or one expert in the area of child abduction who believes that parental child abduction is not as severe as a stranger abduction.

Examiner: You list some organizations on your website including Team HOPE and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. What other resources would you recommend for chasing parents or would you ask the general public to support?

Peter Thomas: I think what is most important right now is that the general public reach out to the legislative leaders and petition them to support Congressman Chris Smith's International Child Abduction Prevention Act of 2009, and any related legislation that will eventually come out of the Senate. Much praise needs to be heaped on Congressman Smith. He is a true advocate of children and Chasing Parents.

In addition, when the U.S. Congress agreed to become a signatory of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, it did so with the mandate that there would be no financial assistance provided to Chasing Parents. However, and contradicting this, when the Office of Children's Issues was created within the U.S. Department of State, Congress essentially mandated this office to use all of its available resources to aid in the recovery of criminally abducted children who have been illegally detained abroad.

Most Chasing Parents lose everything trying to recover their child. Their lives are ambushed. They are forced to race into the unknown storms they could never have anticiapted or desired to race into. There is no roadmap. There is not financial aid. The courts have limited understanding or completed research on this growing criminal crime against children.

It all must change.

Examiner: How is the documentary coming along?

Peter Thomas: There have been many supportive Chasing Parents who are anxious to participate in the documentary. It is a complete learning process since this issue is very delicate. Unquestionably, we need to get this right. So, prudence is critical. However, we're actively researching, writing, reviewing tapes, and preparing interviews - while all along thinking carefully through what format will best raise awareness to the general public about the severity of international child abduction, and what specifically could be done both short and long-term that would reduce the number of abductions from occuring, with the eventual hope that every abducted child is brought home..
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Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas Official Website. Click Here.
Chasing The Cyclone Book Review by The Examiner. Click Here.
Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas blog in Espanol. Click Here.
Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas blog in Italiano. Click Here.
Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas blog in Frances. Click Here.

Chasing Parent Creed

I am a 'Chasing Parent' who was left behind in the wake of my child's criminal international abduction. It is because of the love that I hold for my child, I am pro-active and act immediately using whatever applicable laws are available to me in order to protect my child. I will not rest until I do everything within my means to secure my child's safety and bring my child home.

I am a mother. I am a father. I am a sister. I am a brother. And I am someone's child, too. But most of all, I am a devoted parent to my child, who looks to me for love, comfort, guidance, and support. I am part of my child's identity and foundation.

As a 'Chasing Parent', I move into the unknown storms that surround my child's abduction. I know there will be many challanges that lie ahead of me. It does not matter. Regardless of the severity of the destructive forces that I will face, I will endure all that comes in my path in the name of the unconditional love I have for my child.

I support The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and urge all nations, regardless of whether they are signatories to the international treaty or not, to follow and enforce expeditiously the rules of law established by the international community.

I do not accept being known as a 'Left Behind Parent'. I will not allow the criminal act perpetrated on my child to define me. I am not 'left behind' because I act with all due urgency in any jurisdiction wherever my child may be.

I am in fact a 'Chasing Parent' filled with hope that through my actions, I will reunite with my innocent child who has been victimized by the act of parental abduction. I know that the boundless love I have for my child will guide me as I chase into the storms. I will bring my child home.

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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 Espanol, CLICK HERE.
To Visit the official blogsite of Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas in Italiano, CLICK HERE.
To Visit the official blogsite of Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas in Frances, CLICK HERE.