International Child Abduction

Help may be available in situations where a child under the age of 16 has been taken:

• from Saskatchewan to another country, OR from another country to Saskatchewan;
• by a parent or caregiver; and
• contrary to another parent or caregiver's custody rights; custody rights may also be referred to as decision-making responsibilities or guardianship.

Saskatchewan's International Child Abduction Act, 1996 implements the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Hague Convention). The Hague Convention is the main international treaty that can help parents whose children have been abducted to another country. This includes situations where a child was wrongfully taken to another country, or wrongfully kept in another country, when that other country is not where the child normally resides. A primary objective of the Hague Convention is to respect custody rights that exist in the country where the child normally resides.

The Hague Convention also promotes the creation and exercise of access (sometimes called parenting time or contact) rights. Central Authorities can provide some assistance. Further information is available under the Applications for Access section.

International child abduction cases are managed through special offices in each of the provincial and territorial Justice departments. These offices are called Central Authorities. In Saskatchewan, the Central Authority is:

Kim Newsham
Crown Counsel
Ministry of Justice
100 – 3085 Albert Street
Regina SK S4P 0B1
Phone: 306-787-5709
Fax: 306-787-2599
Email: kim.newsham@gov.sk.ca