A virtual platform success:

On 19 June 2020, the POAM research team hosted the International Experts’ Workshop on Rethinking the Protection of Abducting Mothers in Return Proceedings: Domestic Violence and Parental Child Abduction. The workshop, which was originally due to be held in Milan on 27 March 2020 but was rescheduled on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The experts workshop brought together 40 experts from 10 countries (the UK, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Serbia and Slovenia). The experts included distinguished judges (from the Supreme Court to the Court of First Instance, and to include Hague Network Judges – from the UK this included Sir Mathew Thorpe, Lord Justice Moylan and Lord Brailsford), academics including professors, practitioners, Government officials including the Central Authority, National Points of Contact and experts from the HCCH and the European Commission. The experts’ workshop was of key value to the project as it allowed for meaningful discussions around a carefully prepared information document which reflected the draft Best Practice Guide.

The event received hugely positive feedback from participants who praised the excellence and skillfulness of putting together a virtual international event in these challenging times. The workshop programme is readily available on the events page for further information.