Parental child abduction is referred to when one parent, without either legal authority or the permission of the parent who has lawful custody, takes a child from this other parent. Children are used as both objects and weapons in the struggle between the parents which leads to the brutalization of the children psychologically, specifically destroying their sense of trust in the world around them.

Family courts round the world have to deal with the consequences of the unlawful movement of children across jurisdictions. Global efforts have been made to develop a range of strategies in civil, criminal, domestic and international law based on the principle that the interests of children would be best served by preventing their abduction. The establishment of the Office of International Co-operation on International Family Law under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs reflects a resolve on the part of Government of Pakistan to extend its cooperation in this regard.

The International Judicial Conference 2012 will provide a forum to review the adequacy of existing national/international instruments; to chalk out strategies by sharing international best practices to protect the children from the menace of abduction