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Has your child been abducted?  Are you concerned that your child might be abducted? Did you and your child travel to Finland from abroad without the other parent or legal guardian’s knowledge?

Help

When you are worried or need support regarding a possible child abduction, an international custody dispute, or when your child is missing, call our free helpline at 0800 91 1600. (In Finland)

We answer calls on weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm. If your call is not answered, please try again later.

 

The following aspects constitute an international child abduction:

  • A child is taken to or retained in a foreign country without the consent of the person who has custody of the child
  • The failure to return a child from abroad at the end of a period of the exercise of the right of access to this child or at the end of any other temporary stay in a territory other than that where the custody is exercised
  • The child has been a permanent resident in Finland
  • The child is under the age of 16
Follow the steps below if your child has been abducted:
  1. Try to negotiate with the abductor, if you don’t succeed take the following measures.
  2. Which country has your child been abducted to? More than 90 countries have signed the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, also known as the Hague Abduction Convention. Review the list of countries; if your child has been abducted to one of the listed countries, contact the Ministry of Justice (switchboard: 02951 6001). They will help in regards to the return procedure.
  3. Has your child been abducted to a non-Hague Convention country? If so, contact the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (switchboard: 02952 6001). Contacting and negotiating with the abductor is something the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will help you with; finding a local lawyer and giving relevant information in regards to the country’s legislation is something the Ministry also helps you with.
  4. Call or go to the nearest police station and make a missing person report if you don’t know where you child is. This is something you can do regardless of the custody arrangements. Making a report of an offence committed by the abductor is also an option.
  5. If your child has been brought to Finland without your consent, contact your local authorities.