Sanctuary for Families is proud to introduce the Narkis Golan International Child Abduction Initiative (NGI), a vital new project dedicated to supporting survivors of gender-based violence facing international child abduction cases. This initiative aims to provide crucial legal assistance and advocacy to ensure justice and safety for these families.
About the NGI Initiative
Survivor parents who cross international borders with their children to flee abuse and search for safety can find themselves in complex legal situations, that often culminate in needing to defend themselves in cases filed under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the “Hague Convention”).
The Narkis Golan International Child Abduction Initiative (the “NGI”) is a groundbreaking new Sanctuary project dedicated to increasing access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence who find themselves in these traumatic situations. The NGI’s work focuses mainly on cases falling under the Hague Convention, but in some limited circumstances, it may also include cases where the child was taken to or from a “non-Hague” country.
Our support includes:
- Working with advocates and attorneys across the United States who serve these survivors by providing training and educational resources, technical assistance and referrals, and advice and mentorship;
- Conducting client screenings and providing pro se advice and assistance and/or finding clients pro bono representation;
- Establishing a nationwide network of trained pro bono attorneys to represent survivors in Hague Convention parental abduction cases;
- Strategically filing amicus briefs in Hague Convention appellate cases; and
- Advocating with governmental agencies to improve the implementation of the Hague Convention.
The NGI is staffed by Nicole Fidler, Senior Project Director; Lesley Johannsen, Senior Staff Attorney; and AB Lopane, Project Assistant.
About the Hague Convention
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction aims to ensure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed or retained in any contracting state. Drafted over forty years ago and never updated, the Convention operates on the premise that international child abduction is inherently harmful to children. However, it fails to address scenarios where a protective parent flees across borders to escape domestic violence.
One critical, though challenging, defense under the Hague Convention is the Article 13(b) “grave risk” exception. This defense requires the taking parent to prove by clear and convincing evidence that returning the child to the home country would expose them to physical or psychological harm or place them in an intolerable situation. Unfortunately, even after proving a grave risk, courts can still decide to return the child.
About Narkis Golan
The NGI is named in honor of Narkis Golan, a courageous Sanctuary client who fought to prevent her young son from being returned to Italy after escaping severe domestic abuse. Despite a federal judge recognizing the grave risk posed by the father’s violence, Narkis faced an unrelenting legal battle. She ultimately took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued a landmark decision affirming that courts can choose not to consider ameliorative measures when a grave risk is evident. This decision significantly advanced the rights of survivors in Hague Convention cases.
Tragically, Narkis passed away while her case was still pending. Her legacy lives on through her Supreme Court victory and the NGI’s dedication to supporting survivors of gender-based violence in international child abduction cases.
Learn more about Narkis here.
Contact Us
If you are a victim’s rights organization, legal services organization, or pro bono attorney serving survivors of gender-based violence in international child abduction cases, please fill out this form to request technical assistance.
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.