CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A PARTICULAR CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN LEGAL COUNSEL.
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CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
Consular Child Protection Services for U.S. citizens abroad in individual cases is the responsibility of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Office of American Citizen Services and Crisis Management. Our Office of Policy Review and Inter-Agency Liaison works closely with other U.S. Department of State offices, international organizations, and other U.S. Government agencies to develop policies and programs on child protection matters. Our Office of Children's Issues does not handle these matters. The responsibilities of our Office of Children's Issues include only International Parental Child Abduction and International Adoption
CONSULAR AUTHORITY FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS ABROAD:
Article 5(h) of the VCCR specifically provides that consular functions include, "safeguarding... the interests of minors and other persons lacking full capacity who are nationals of the sending state, particularly where any guardianship or trusteeship is required with respect to such persons."
Article 37(b) of the VCCR generally requires the "competent authorities of the receiving state" (i.e., the country in which a foreign national is found) "to inform the competent consular post without delay of any case where the appointment of a guardian or trustee appears to be in the interests of a minor or other person lacking full capacity who is a national of the sending state."
SELECTED FEDERAL STATUTES
Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-314)
Child Online Protection Act of 1998 (Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 4328, P.L. 105-277, Title XIV
Clearinghouses and Other Links
- Office of Children's Issues (for international parental child abduction or international adoption issues ONLY)
- Office of Children's Issues Division of Responsibilities
- International Parental Child Abduction
- Child Passport Issuance Alert Program (for parental child abduction)
- International Adoption