There is a growing chorus of mothers who cannot escape domestic abuse with their children due to the restrictions of the HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD NO. 72 OF 1996 to which SA is a signatory. It is aimed at protecting child abduction but it seems to be ‘good law gone bad’ for those trying to escape abuse, especially bad for mothers of another nationality from the father in countries with patriarchal family law. Daily Maverick was approached by one such mother to pen an article about it but her request surprisingly didn’t get traction. Her daughter and granddaughter are in a living nightmare in an Asian country. A group called Hague Mothers is trying to undo the harm that this law is doing. She has joined, as there were no other Africans on it. A link to the Hague Mothers is provided at the end. I shall approach some journalists on DM to follow up this important issue and can get my friend’s contact through me. https://www.hague-mothers.org.uk/
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After re-engaging with Daily Maverick on the topic of the unintended consequences of the Hague Convention, Rebecca Davis published this very important story. DM could follow up further by encouraging the public to comment on the proposed amendments to SA Children’s Act to ensure that abusers of marital regime are not protected by the Hague Convention. I think more attention should be given to this.
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