CSW69 Panel: Strengthening the Hague Convention for Domestic Violence Survivors

Sanctuary for Families hosted a groundbreaking expert panel discussion in parallel with CSW69, focused on the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and its problematic application to survivors of domestic violence fleeing abuse.

On Tuesday, March 11, Sanctuary for Families hosted a groundbreaking expert panel discussion in parallel with the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (“CSW”), an annual two-week session hosted by UN Women. The Sanctuary event, Beyond Borders: Strengthening the Hague Convention for Domestic Violence Survivors, focused on the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction (the “Convention”) and its problematic application to survivors of domestic violence fleeing abuse. As far as we are aware, it was the first CSW parallel event to address the intersection between the Convention and domestic violence.

This panel was organized by Sanctuary’s Narkis Golan International Child Abduction Initiative, a new Sanctuary project aimed at improving outcomes for domestic violence survivors in Hague Convention litigations. The project primarily serves mothers fleeing domestic violence to protect themselves and their children. The project provides crucial support to clients through screenings, pro se advice and assistance, and connecting clients with pro bono attorneys across the U.S.

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The Hague Convention and Its Limitations

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction was established over forty years ago to ensure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed or retained across international borders. Its intent was to protect children from the harms of international abduction; it has never been updated to address cases where a parent flees across borders to escape domestic violence.

A key provision within the Convention is the Article 13(b) “grave risk” exception. This defense allows a parent to argue that returning the child to their home country would expose them to physical or psychological harm or place them in an intolerable situation. However, proving this defense can be complex and challenging, specifically for protective mothers who are seeking refuge from domestic abuse and who often have no money to hire an experienced attorney to help them assert the complicated defense.

Panel Discussion: Addressing the Gaps in the Convention

The panel brought together renowned experts to evaluate the Convention’s failure to protect survivors of domestic violence and their children adequately. These experts proposed best practices and solutions to improve the implementation of the Convention, specifically for fleeing mothers seeking safety and protection.

The panelists included:

  • Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, who has been instrumental in raising awareness of the difficulties faced by Hague Mothers.
  • Adrienne Barnett, Professor of Family Law at Brunel University, London, who focuses on family law and the Hague Convention, among other areas.
  • Janaína Albuquerque Azevedo Gomes, Legal Coordinator at REVIBRA Europe, a dual-qualified lawyer practicing in Brazil and Portugal, with expertise in cross-border family law.
  • Maria Jose Vallejo Manzur, Director of the Bi-National Project of Family Violence at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, a dual-qualified lawyer practicing in the U.S. and Mexico.
  • Merle H. Weiner, Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law, who has extensively written on the impact of the Convention on domestic violence survivors.

Key Discussion Topics

The panelists began by addressing the foundational issues with the Convention in the context of domestic violence. Topics included the history and goals of the Convention, the challenges of the “Grave Risk of Harm” defense, unequal access to justice, and the issue of protective mothers being perceived as “abductors.” The gender dynamics present in these cases were also explored, shedding light on how the legal framework often fails to consider the realities of domestic violence and its effect on mothers.

The panelists also discussed the concept of protective measures, which in theory are supposed to help survivors and their children safely return to the left-behind country. They emphasized the practical difficulties domestic violence survivors face in trying to enforce these measures, as well as the fact that the measures often fall far short of the protection they and their children need to truly mitigate the risk of further physical and/or psychological harm. The second half of the conversation shifted to the human rights implications in Hague domestic violence cases. The panelists shared insights from their respective jurisdictions and examined the broader human rights concerns at play.

The panel concluded with an analysis of potential solutions, such as the need for updates to the Convention’s Guide to Good Practice, improved and more accessible legal support for Hague mothers, and increased awareness both domestically and internationally about the unique challenges Hague mothers/survivors and their children face.

Sanctuary extends our deep gratitude to Latham & Watkins LLP, a long-time Sanctuary pro bono partner, for providing the venue, lunch and phenomenal event services team without which this panel discussion would not have been a success.

If you are a survivor of gender-based violence and need an intake and consultation related to a Hague Convention case, please email GolanInitiative@sffny.org

Molly Gochman, 2025 Zero Tolerance Honoree

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Zero Tolerance Award to artist and activist Molly Gochman.

INTRODUCING MOLLY

Molly Gochman, an artist and activist deeply engaged in social practice, focuses on activating spaces for profound collective experiences. Her practice encompasses a diverse range of mediums including photography, sound, installation, and sculpture. Through these mediums, she often challenges and subverts conventional material boundaries to foster interaction, play, exploration, and meaningful dialogue.

In addition to her art practice, Molly’s commitment to creating a more just and equitable world led her to found Stardust—an organization encompassing philanthropy and impact investments. Through Stardust, she supports movements focused on care, strengthens community ecosystems, and prioritizes lived experience leadership through collaborative partnerships. Molly seamlessly weaves her artistic practice with Stardust’s philanthropic and investment strategies, driving positive change.

Molly has elevated Sanctuary’s mission since 2014 through both investment and advocacy. She has participated in meal preparation and sharing with survivors of sex trafficking, provided exercise equipment for clients who use running as a trauma coping strategy, and enabled the growth of Sanctuary’s future leaders through financial support and mentorship. Additionally, she has donated photographs from her international activist artwork, Red Sand Project, which sheds light on the vulnerabilities that contribute to exploitation.

Molly received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Guilford College. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Board of the Freedom Fund and sits on the board of Wassaic Project. She is a member of the Brooklyn Museum’s Council for Feminist Art and the New Museum’s Artemis Council. Her previous board service includes Creative Time, Aurora Picture Show, Children’s Rights, and the Orange Show Foundation. Originally from Texas, Molly is currently based in New York.


Join us for our Zero Tolerance Benefit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to honor survivors of gender violence and pay tribute to Molly and three fellow inspirational leaders in this work.

LEARN MORE & GET TICKETS

Katharine Bieber Ogg, 2025 Zero Tolerance Honoree

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Zero Tolerance Award to Katharine Bieber Ogg, Vice President & Secretary of Sanctuary Board of Directors.

INTRODUCING KATE

Katharine Bieber Ogg is a non-practicing attorney and a longtime champion of Sanctuary’s work.

For over 20 years Kate has brought compassion, energy, and wisdom to all that she does on behalf of survivors. She first got involved as a law school student in 2003 through Sanctuary’s Courtroom Advocates Project, an initiative that connects survivors with trained law school advocates who assist with the filing of family offense petitions.  Since 2009, she participated in Sanctuary’s Adopt-a-Family program, providing holiday gifts directly to Sanctuary’s neediest clients.  In 2014, she became a volunteer in Sanctuary’s Development Department, traveling to their office twice weekly to help organize events, do research, and thank supporters. To recognize her amazing contributions, she was honored at Sanctuary’s 2016 Pillars of Change volunteer event.

In 2016, Kate joined Sanctuary’s Board of Directors and quickly became a leader, serving as a Vice President and the Secretary of the Board.  She also served on multiple committees, including the Development Committee (as co-chair for five years), the Nominating Committee (as co-chair for three years), and the Executive Committee.  She has traveled to Albany to join our advocacy efforts and participated in countless Family Council events. Kate brings her passion and commitment to Sanctuary’s mission to all that she does.

Kate received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and was admitted to the bar in both New York and Connecticut, working in the area of family law before leaving practice. She lives with her husband, Ryan, and their three children in Brooklyn.


Join us for our Zero Tolerance Benefit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to honor survivors of gender violence and pay tribute to Kate and three fellow inspirational leaders in this work.

LEARN MORE & GET TICKETS

Stacey J. Rappaport, 2025 Zero Tolerance Honoree

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Zero Tolerance Award to Stacey J. Rappaport, Partner at Milbank LLP and member of Sanctuary’s Board of Directors.

INTRODUCING STACEY

Stacey J. Rappaport is a partner in Milbank’s Litigation & Arbitration Group in New York and a former member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee. Known for exceptional client service, versatility, and attention to detail, Stacey represents some of the nation’s leading financial services companies and their life insurance subsidiaries in class action and life settlement investor litigation. Stacey has been recognized in many industry publications, including Chambers and Benchmark Litigation. She has twice been honored as Euromoney Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyer of the Year and, for the past three years, she has been recognized in Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America.

Stacey has been a passionate advocate for the advancement of women for her entire career. In 2009, she launched Milbank’s Women’s Initiative and served as its first chair. She created and led several programs as a member of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Women in the Legal Profession. She currently serves on the board of UC Law San Francisco’s Equality Action Center, which seeks to advance gender, racial, and class equality in the workplace. Stacey is also an active alumna of Fordham Law School, where she serves on the Dean’s Planning Council, the board of the Fordham Law Alumni Association, and the board of Lincoln Square Legal Services, Inc. – Fordham’s faculty/student law clinic. In 2019, she received Fordham Law School’s Feerick Center for Social Justice “Champion of Justice” Award.

Stacey has taken on some of Sanctuary’s most challenging pro bono cases, including a case that she recently won before the New York Court of Appeals. Last year, her team won Sanctuary’s Above & Beyond Pro Bono Achievement Award for that matter, securing a divorce for a survivor after an arduous four-year litigation battle. She has also represented Sanctuary and partner organizations on several amicus briefs involving technology-related abuse, including in cases against Backpage and Grindr.

Stacey joined Sanctuary’s Board in 2016, serving as a member of the Development Committee and the Advocacy Committee, which she has co-chaired for the past four years.  She has been instrumental in increasing Board support for Sanctuary’s pressing legislative priorities and program initiatives.

Stacey and her husband, Craig, live with their two children in New Jersey.


Join us for our Zero Tolerance Benefit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to honor survivors of gender violence and pay tribute to Stacey and three fellow inspirational leaders in this work.

LEARN MORE & GET TICKETS