About Us
The Narkis Golan International Child Abduction Initiative (the “NGI”) is a groundbreaking new Sanctuary for Families’ Pro Bono Project dedicated to increasing access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence who cross international borders with their children to flee abuse and search for safety.
The NGI’s work focuses mainly on cases falling under the Hague Convention, but in some limited circumstances may also include cases where the child was taken to or from a “non-Hague” country.
The NGI’s work includes:
- Providing training, educational resources, technical assistance, referrals, advice and mentorship to advocates and attorneys across the United States
- 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
- 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.
