Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Japan is known as a haven for international child abduction as the country has never returned a single abducted child.

Paul Toland, who is a commander in the U.S. Navy and has testified before Congress on this issue, is the only living parent of Erika Toland who was abducted to Japan in 2003 and has been held there first by his wife, Etsuko – who later committed suicide – and since then by Erika's grandmother.

Toland's experience led him to co-found the organization Bring Abducted Children Home, which is dedicated to the immediate return of internationally abducted children who are being wrongfully detained in Japan.

He spoke with DadsDivorce.com editor Matt Allen about his story and why Japan is known as a "black hole" for children who have been abducted where once they enter, they never return.

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice reported an average of 200,000 cases of parental kidnapping each year.

Maureen Dabbagh is a Virginia Supreme Court Family Mediator specializing in cross-border child custody disputes, who has been providing expert testimony on the issue of parental kidnapping since 1997.

Her own three-year-old daughter was abducted from the United States and taken to the Middle East by her ex-husband. Dabbagh had no communication with her daughter for 17 years until they were reunited in 2010.

Now, Dabbagh has just released a book call "Parental Kidnapping in America: An Historical and Cultural Analysis."

By Matt Allen

Editor, DadsDivorce.com

Because of the difference between Japanese and American laws regarding custody and kidnapping, Japan has become a safe refuge for parents who abduct their own children and want to keep them away from their American fathers.

That may no longer be the case, though, as Japan has endorsed plans to bring itself in line with the international child custody convention commonly referred to as the Hague Convention, according to an Associated Press report.

Athena Roussos is the attorney for George Petroutsas, a dad who is trying to get his son, Andoni, returned to him from the child’s mother who is holding him in Greece. A judge awarded full custody to Petroutsas but the judge allowed the mother to take the child with her to Greece for a final visit.

Well, now the mother is staying in Greece with the child and an international custody dispute is underway. In a previous interview, Petroutsas discussed his emotions and efforts trying to get his son rightfully returned to him.

Roussos talked with editor Matt Allen about the current state of the case, the Hague Convention and the myriad legal issues involved with international custody issues. 

George Petroutsas is involved in an international child custody battle to have his son, Andoni, returned to him from the child’s mother who is holding him in Greece.

A judge awarded full custody to George but allowed George's ex-wife to have the child visit her in Greece for a final visit. Now, the mother is refusing to return Andoni to George per the court order and an international custody dispute is underway.

George talked with editor Matt Allen about the emotions involved in going through this tragic ordeal and how people can help by visiting the website BringAndoniHome.org.

Listen to the full audio version of the interview, which described in greater detail the background of George's case.

Also, listen to the interview with George's attorney Athena Roussos discussing the legal issues involved in international custody battles.