Case Law Search

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Appeal allowed, return refused

Two children allegedly wrongfully removed at ages 2 and 3 – Father national of New Zealand – Mother national of Australia – Mother the primary carer of the children – Children lived in New Zealand until May 2019 – Appeal allowed and return refused – Main issues: Article 13(1)(b) - Though New Zealand has sophisticated systems in place to protect victims of family violence, it was established that the children’s parents had persistently thwarted attempts by similar agencies in Australia to keep the mother and children safe. There was no evidence which suggests that any conditions would be effective ; COVID-19 – despite the fact travel bans were in place between Australia and New Zealand, as the case was based on a request by New Zealand to return the children, the court proceeded on the basis that the children and the mother were still able to leave Australia and enter New Zealand. If the court had decided to order a return to New Zealand they would have required further submissions concerning the effect on the children and the mother in the present crisis.

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Appeal dismissed, return refused

Appeal dismissed and return refused; the removal was wrongful but the standard of harm required under Article 13(1)(b) had been proved.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Return refused

Appeal dismissed and return refused; this was an exceptional case where the standard of harm envisaged within Article 13(1)(b) had been reached.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2)

Return refused

Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Return refused

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2) | Human Rights - Art. 20 | Procedural Matters

Return ordered

Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Procedural Matters

Appeal allowed, return ordered

Consent - Art. 13(1)(a) | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Return refused

Return refused; the applicant father was found to have consented to the child living in South Africa permanently and the child would face a grave risk of harm if returned to the applicant.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Rights of Access - Art. 21 | Procedural Matters

Appeal dismissed, return ordered

Appeals dismissed and return ordered; the step-sister's application for contact with her wrongfully removed half sibling had to await the outcome of the Convention proceedings, and, the Commonwealth Central Authority was not estopped from bringing a separate return application.

Removal and Retention - Arts 3 and 12 | Acquiescence - Art. 13(1)(a) | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Return ordered

Return ordered; the retention was wrongful and none of the exceptions had been proved to the standard required under the Convention.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Settlement of the Child - Art. 12(2)

Appeal dismissed, return refused

Appeal dismissed and return refused; the removal was wrongful but the standard of harm required under Article 13(1)(b) had been proved.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2)

Removal wrongful, return of the younger children ordered; the standard of harm required under Article 13(1)(b) had not been made out. Return of the older child refused; her objections met the standard required under Article 13(2).

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Undertakings | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2) | Human Rights - Art. 20 | Procedural Matters

Appeal dismissed, return ordered with undertakings offered

Appeal dismissed, removal wrongful and return ordered with undertakings offered; none of the exceptions argued had been proved to the requisite standard.

Rights of Custody - Art. 3 | Acquiescence - Art. 13(1)(a) | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Consent - Art. 13(1)(a)

Return ordered

Return ordered; the removal of the child was wrongful as it was in breach of the father's rights of custody and the standard required under Article 13(1)(b) to indicate a grave risk of harm had not been met.

Aims of the Convention - Preamble, Arts 1 and 2 | Habitual Residence - Art. 3 | Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b)

Return ordered

Removal wrongful and return ordered; the child was habitually resident in Switzerland at the time of the removal and the standard required under the Article 13 exceptions had not been made out.

Aims of the Convention - Preamble, Arts 1 and 2 | Habitual Residence - Art. 3

Return ordered

Return ordered; the removal was wrongful since the child was both habitually resident in the United States and the father had custody rights, at the time of the removal.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Objections of the Child to a Return - Art. 13(2)

Return ordered

Return ordered; none of the exceptions had been proved to the standard required under the Convention.

Grave Risk - Art. 13(1)(b) | Human Rights - Art. 20

Return refused

Retention wrongful but return refused; the standard required under Article 13(1)(b) had been made out. The fact that the mother was denied entry into the United States constituted a grave risk that the child would be placed in an intolerable situation if sent back alone.

Consent - Art. 13(1)(a)

Appeal allowed, return ordered

Appeal allowed and return ordered; the removal had breached the father's rights of custody, and there was in-sufficient evidence to indicate consent. In addition the standard required under Article 13(1)(b), to indicate that the children would face a grave risk of harm, had not been met.