FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

Congressional Hearing: Update on the Goldman Act and International Child Abduction

Original title: NO ABDUCTED CHILD LEFT BEHIND: AN UPDATE ON THE GOLDMAN ACT

January 1, 2018

international child abduction Goldman Act human rights family law U.S. Department of State

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses the status of approximately 800 American children currently held in foreign countries, evaluating whether federal enforcement of the is successfully securing their return to the United States.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Parents of abducted children

These individuals are seeking the return of their children from foreign jurisdictions.

U.S. Department of State

The agency is responsible for implementing the Goldman Act and managing international child abduction cases.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This hearing transcript documents a 2018 Congressional review of the , a law designed to address international parental child abduction. Witnesses discussed the ongoing challenges of returning children abducted to foreign countries and the effectiveness of current U.S. government efforts.

Key Facts

Approximately 800 children are currently held in foreign countries, separated from their American parent.
Only 16 percent of abducted children are returned to the United States, based on historical data.
The hearing was held on April 11, 2018, by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
The hearing focused on the implementation and effectiveness of the Goldman Act.
Witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of State, private family law practice, and a parent affected by international abduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Goldman Act?

It is a federal law aimed at preventing international parental child abduction and assisting in the return of children abducted from the United States.

How many children are currently abducted internationally?

According to the U.S. Department of State statistics cited in the hearing, nearly 800 children are held in foreign countries.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Low Success Rate of Returns

The hearing highlights a significant policy challenge: historically, only 16 percent of abducted children are successfully returned to the U.S.

U.S. Department of State

Connected Entities

personPatricia Apy“International and interstate family law attorney”Map →

personChristopher H. Smith“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and ”Map →

personJames Cook“Father of four children abducted in Japan”Map →

personSuzanne Lawrence“Special Advisor for Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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