AG/RES. 1691 (XXIX-O/99)

INTERNATIONAL ABDUCTION OF MINORS BY ONE OF THEIR PARENTS

(Resolution adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 8, 1999)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN:

The Hague Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction of October 25, 1980;

The Inter-American Convention on the International Return of Children of July 15, 1989;

The Convention on the Rights of the Child of November 20, 1989;

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women of December 18, 1979;

The Plan of Action of the Second Summit of the Americas, held in Santiago, Chile, on April 19, 1998;

Resolution CD/RES. 10 (73-R/98) on the abduction of children by one of their parents, adopted by the 73rd. Meeting of the Directing Council of the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN), on October 24, 1998;

CONSIDERING:

That the Heads of State and Government of the Hemisphere, in their stated intention of redoubling efforts to continue reforms designed to improve the living conditions of the peoples of the Americas and achieve a mutually supportive community, undertook in the Plan of Action of the Second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, in April 1998, to pay priority attention to, among other rights, the right to custody of minors;

That at its 73rd Regular Meeting the Directing Council of the IIN expressed its repudiation of the abduction of minors by one of their parents as a grave violation of the rights of the child; and

NOTING the efforts made by the Secretary General of the OAS with respect to this item,

RESOLVES:

1. To express its grave concern at the existence of cases of international abduction of minors by one of their parents.

2. To request the Directing Council of the Inter-American Children’s Institute to continue consideration of the item regarding the international abduction of minors by one of their parents at its 74th Regular Meeting, as a matter of shared concern.

3. To suggest that the items on the international abduction of minors by one of their parents and right of custody over minors be closely examined at the Eighteenth Pan American Child Congress to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in September 1999.

4. To request the Inter-American Juridical Committee to issue an opinion, as it was asked to do in resolution CD/RES. 10 (73-R/98), adopted by the 73rd. Regular Meeting of the Directing Council of the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN).

5. To encourage the member states that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, or accede to the Hague Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction of October 25, 1980.