New charity launched for child abductees

A new charity to aid the parents of abducted children was launched today.

The Irish Centre for Parentally Abducted Children opened at the European Parliament offices in Dublin.

This centre is the first of its kind in Ireland..

While official figures for last year are not yet available, there were more than 70 cases of abduction involving 180 children in 1999.

The centre will offer a helpline where parents and guardians of kidnapped children can receive help and advice in dealing with the problem. Prevention packs will also be available to advise on how to avoid the situation.

The centre is part of the European Network on Parental Child Abduction and has close links with its British counterpart Re-unite.

Its work will also be supported by the Hague convention which has 61 signatories. This agreement requires nations to which a child has been taken to return them to their country of residence until the issue is resolved.