Despite the entry into force of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 (“Hague Convention”) in Pakistan in 2017, there remain only a handful of judgments by Pakistani courts where the Convention’s applicability has been considered. Judges often do not apply the Hague Convention in international parental child abduction cases presented before them. This reflects a broader gap in awareness regarding the Convention’s existence, scope, and application within Pakistan’s legal framework.
One of the key contributing factors to this gap is the lack of targeted resource materials that explain the content and applicability of the Hague Convention in a manner contextualized to Pakistan’s domestic legal system.
To address this gap, the Bench Book on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 (“Bench Book”) has been developed. It is the first resource of its kind designed to provide context-specific guidance to judges—and lawyers—handling international parental child abduction cases in Pakistan. The Bench Book offers accurate, accessible, and comprehensive information to promote a consistent and broader understanding of the Hague Convention. It aims to improve judicial responses to child abduction cases, ultimately making the justice system more accessible, effective, and responsive in protecting children.
Here’s the link to the full book: Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction 1980 Bench Book