International Child Abduction Cases under the Hague Convention

The paper examines the application of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction from the perspective of Turkish law.

The Convention aims to secure the prompt return of a child who has been wrongfully removed or retained to the country of habitual residence, and to ensure that the decision on the merits of custody is taken in that country.

The study assesses the conditions for a return request, the requirement to interpret the Convention's exceptions to return narrowly, the hearing of the child, and cooperation between central authorities.