BABSEACLE’s Post

Founder, KSJ Legal & Principal Attorney Ms. Khushbakht Shah Jillani will be attending the HCCH - Hague Conference on Private International Law Forum on Domestic Violence & the Operation of Article 13(1)(B) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention happening in-person [& online] at Sandton, South Africa from 18 to 21 June 2024. KSJ Legal's participation is monumental in understanding the implications of invoking Article 13(1)(B) in proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Parental Abduction 1980 as it has represented and advised US-Pakistani clients on the same. This participation aims to contribute to adopting best practices from Pakistan's perspective –one which is smooth and less traumatic for both parents and children. Learn more about the HCCH - Hague Conference on Private International Law Forum here: https://lnkd.in/eytQ5BwF Learn about Pakistan's ratification of the Hague Convention on Parental Abduction here: https://lnkd.in/eSrUp6BT . . . #hagueconvention #Hague #child #childrights #rightsbasedapproach #effective #parentalabduction #protectingmothers #savethechildren #criminaljustice #justice #lawyers #familylaw #familylawyers #familylawattorney

I'm increasingly meeting what we call "Hague Mothers" who are the victims of the misapplication of Hague Convention on Child Abduction (HCCA) Context: marriage takes place in Pakistan and the couple later migrates abroad where they create their marital home. Relationship breaks down and the couple starts fighting over who gets the children. When no agreement is reached, one parent leaves the marital abode *with the children* back to Pakistan or to another jurisdiction. This 'act of removing children' invokes the HCCA. A recent case I'm handling required me to dig into a 700 page trial under the Convention tried by the Superior Court of California to understand my client's custody case in depth. And it was the misapplication of Article 13(1)(B) [ground of domestic violence] in addition to lack of understanding of Islamic principles applicable in a Muslim marriage that led to my client losing the Hague case in California. Perspectives from across the board are important for successful and sensitive application of the Convention, which is what I plan to do with my participation in this FORUM by HCCH - Hague Conference on Private International Law. Muslim couples and those from Pakistan operate from/in a very unique ecosystem where family law is read with the Muslim Personal Law: and understanding the same is crucial. Having said that, Pakistani lawyers need to also refrain from giving reckless advice to female clients that does more damage than good. Recent judgment by the Sindh High Court on the Convention is an example of misapplication and lack of will to help the 'Hague Mothers'. There needs to be active resistance towards antagonising the mothers who have to leave marital homes under immense pressure, health and safety risks. Situations like such require utmost sensitivity, empathy, a solid legal plan and the will to make things better. . . . . #domesticviolenceawareness #HCCH #Hagueconvention #child #childabduction #Abduction #parental #childrights #happyfamilies #familylaw #familylawyer

Funds from the Massachusetts IOLTA Committee make a significant difference in the lives of real people and in our communities by supporting legal help for people across the Commonwealth who cannot afford an attorney. In partnership with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and the Boston Bar Foundation of the Boston Bar Association, IOLTA grants increase the capacity of legal aid organizations to offer critical assistance to those who have few resources to address civil legal issues, including domestic violence, housing, immigration status, child advocacy, family law, discrimination, and health care. Learn more about the IOLTA program and where that money goes: http://ow.ly/Trtq50Jzpg5 #LegalAidChangesLives #JusticeForAll

The deadline for pre-registration for the Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention is this Friday 19 April, 5.00 p.m. (CEST). The Forum is intended to provide an informal setting in which participants can engage in an open, respectful and constructive dialogue on return proceedings where domestic violence is raised as a defense to the return of the child under Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention. The Forum will be held in South Africa from Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 June 2024. While in-person participation is strongly encouraged, passive online participation (listening only) will be possible.   Registration of all interested delegates and experts will occur in two stages, commencing with pre-registration by e-mail. The Forum is not only open to delegates from HCCH Members and non-Member Contracting Parties to the Child Abduction Convention, but also to other interested parties, including, judges, legal practitioners, advocates for victims of domestic violence and left-behind parents, academic researchers, psychologists, and other subject-matter experts. The final composition of the Forum’s participants, in particular as regards in-person attendance, will be determined by reference to geographical balance, a mix of legal system traditions, and a broad and balanced range of expertise among attendees.   For more information, and to pre-register by this Friday, please visit: https://bit.ly/4aDTaIb   #HCCH #privateinternationallaw #internationallaw #internationalfamily law #familylaw #childabduction #childprotection

As we wrap up #YJAM please take a look at this blog from our youth advocates working to educate people about the harms of the juvenile legal system and institutional placements. https://lnkd.in/eQCUPAYt

Last week, ISS/IRC Children's Rights Specialist Giovanna Ricciardi met with Ignacio Goicoechea, Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the HCCH - Hague Conference on Private International Law during the International Congress of the International Association of Family Law Jurists AIJUDEFA (Asociación Internacional de Juristas de Derecho de Familia). The congress represented a great forum to stress the importance of ratifying and implementing the HCCH 1996 Child Protection Convention and discuss future joint efforts in the region.   Learn more about ISS/IRC activities and advocacy in #childprotection here https://lnkd.in/eVKDVjT6. #ISS100 #childprotection #privateinternationallaw #childrensrights #ISSpioneeradvocacy

Egale Canada’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan is now available at https://lnkd.in/g-Taij2w The 2024-2027 strategic plan outlines how our core pillars, Research, Education, Awareness, and Legal Advocacy, will inform one another, and work together to help advance our vision of a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and all other forms of oppression. And help solve the complex and growing issues facing the 2SLGBTQI communities today - one we at Egale are prepared to assert with strategy, law, data and our communities and allies by our side.

🔍 Addressing Systemic Challenges in Youth Defense: Ensuring Qualified Representation for Cleveland’s Youth 🔍 A recent investigation has highlighted significant gaps in the legal defense provided to over 1,200 children in Cuyahoga County since 2020. Many of these young individuals, facing serious charges, were represented by court-appointed attorneys who lacked the state-required qualifications. This has led to concerns over fairness and equity within the juvenile justice system, with long-term implications for both the youth involved and their communities. Ohio’s qualification standards are intended to ensure that attorneys handling juvenile cases are equipped with specialized training in youth defense. However, systemic barriers and administrative hurdles have contributed to a shortage of qualified attorneys taking on these cases, disproportionately affecting Black youth who are often transferred to adult court without fully understanding their legal rights. 🔗 Please read the full article here https://bit.ly/3Tn9GWH At the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, we are committed to driving change by advocating for reforms that ensure every child in our community receives the qualified, capable defense they deserve. This is a critical moment for collaboration between legal professionals, policymakers, and community advocates to address these systemic shortcomings and rebuild trust in the system. 📢 Let’s work together to create a more equitable justice system for all. #YouthJustice #LegalReform #Cleveland #JuvenileLaw #Equity #CommunityAdvocacy #JusticeForAll #SaferCleveland

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Morocco unveiled major reforms to its family law on Tuesday in Rabat, the first review in 20 years. The changes aim to strengthen women’s rights in child custody, guardianship, and polygamy while addressing societal shifts. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gweVKPEk #AsiaOne #AsiaOneMagazine #WomensRights #GenderEquality #EmpowerWomen #HumanRights #EqualityForAll #FeminismMatters #HerVoiceMatters #JusticeForWomen #Politics

Imagine facing an international child abduction case, where your child is taken to another country, and the other parent refuses to return them. This complex scenario is precisely what my client experienced when his child was wrongfully retained in Peru. Leveraging the Hague Convention as the initial framework, I pursued a strategic legal approach that ultimately led to success in Peruvian courts. 💼 The result? The child was safely reunited with his father in the United States. 🇺🇸 International custody disputes require a nuanced understanding of both local and international law. With my expertise in navigating these challenging cases, I provide clients with clarity, confidence, and effective legal representation. If you are facing a similar issue, let’s discuss how I can support your case and help safeguard your parental rights. #FamilyLaw #InternationalLaw #LegalExpertise #ChildCustody #ParentalRights