Media Centre

Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions, reunite’s own statistics relating to international parental child abduction, and details of how to contact us.

FAQ’s

When was reunite founded?

reunite was established in 1986 as a parent support network known as reunite National Council for Abducted Children. We registered as a charity in 1990 and over the years developed into a specialist information and resource centre. In 1999 we changed our name to reunite International Child Abduction Centre.

What is reunite´s role?

We are the leading UK charity specialising in international parental child abduction. Our objectives are to provide advice, information and support to parents, family members and guardians whose children have been abducted or who fear abduction. We also provide advice and information to parents who may have abducted their children.

We also assist and advise in international contact issues and cases of ´permission to remove´.

We provide the only advice line service in the UK specialising in international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders, which operates Monday to Friday, 9.30am until 5.00pm, with a 24hr out of hours emergency service.

We do not deal with cases of stranger abduction.

We also offer a mediation service where, with the help of our specialist, impartial mediators, parents are able to make informed decisions and reach workable solutions in the best interests of their child and family as a whole.

We also take forward initiatives which support and assist parents, policymakers and professionals working in the field of international parental child abduction. Initiatives include undertaking research; hosting conferences; providing assistance to the police and government departments; and liaising with overseas government departments and non-governmental organisations.

Does reunite only assist British parents?

reunite is a truly international organisation and will assist parents wherever they are in the world, regardless of whether or not they are a British citizen and whether or not their case involves the UK.

reunite Statistics

Below is an overview of the statistics based on calls received through our advice line.

We have seen a 200% increase in the number of abduction cases reported to us between 1995 and 2009.

Our abduction cases include children abducted out of the UK, those abducted into the UK and even those children abducted between two countries with no connection to the UK.

In 2009, the most frequent destination for children abducted out of the UK was Spain and the USA jointly, with Ireland seeing the second highest numbers and Poland the third highest.

In 2009, the most frequent country of origin for children abducted into the UK was Spain, with the USA second, and Ireland third.

In 2009, of those children abducted from the UK to a Non Hague Convention country, the most frequent destinations were Pakistan, India, and Nigeria.

For children brought from Non Hague Convention countries to the UK, the most frequent countries from which they were brought were Egypt, India and Nigeria.

Overall, during 2009 our advice line received 7,276 telephone calls.

Get in touch with us

If you would like to discuss reunite participating in an interview, providing cases studies, or providing more information about the complex issues surrounding international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders, please email Sally Merrigan on s.merrigan@reunite.demon.co.uk

For all general enquiries please visit our Contact section.

Balloon Launch

The reunite annual Balloon Launch will be held on Thursday 3rd December in the Town Hall Square, Leicester.

We offer a specialist mediation service to assist parents to make informed decisions and reach workable solutions in the best interests of their child and family as a whole.

The reunite Child Abduction Prevention Guide provides clear and concise information and practical steps to take if you fear your child is in danger of abduction.

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