ASSISTANT SECRETARY MICHELE THOREN BOND: Chairman Smith,
thank you for this opportunity to discuss
international parental child abduction.
This is one of the highest priorities
in the Bureau of Consular Affairs
and the Department of State.
As Secretary Kerry noted in his statement on child abduction
yesterday, and as you have pointed out,
"the Department will continue to use
all the tools available to us to help those involved
and to resolve their disputes, move forward with their lives."
Mr. Chairman, thank you for your leadership on this issue.
You have heard the testimony of my colleagues, Ambassador
Jacobs, Deputy Assistant Secretary
Christensen, and Director Hand in previous hearings.
You know that I lead a talented team
of experienced professionals who work tirelessly
to prevent abductions and bring children back home.
My testimony today will summarize my written statement,
which I request be entered into the Congressional record.
The Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction
Prevention and Return Act of 2014
has given us additional leverage to resolve these cases.
We have already put these additional tools to good use.
We're proud of our contribution to the 247 returns in 2015,
and about 140 prevented abductions in 2015.
And we recognize and accept the challenge
of the 1,100 cases that remain open, some for many years.
Mr. Chairman, many actions take place every day
to prevent or resolve these heart wrenching cases.
Since implementation of the law, more than 140 children
have been protected from removal from the United States.
The law also provides the mechanism
to streamline interagency efforts,
and we are fortunate to receive crucial assistance
from our interagency partners.
We share your goals of preventing abduction, ensuring
the expeditious return of children to their homes,
and strengthening and expanding the Hague Abduction Convention.
Let me briefly explain the role of the Office of Children's
Issues within the greater context
of how the Bureau of Consular Affairs
advances U.S. foreign policy.
The Office of Children's Issues provides policy guidance
and coordination within the Department
of State and the Washington interagency community
to prevent child abduction.
It safeguards the welfare of abducted children,
returns abducted children to their places
of habitual residence, and helps parents
resolve these complex cases.
The Office of Children's Issues executes U.S. obligations
under the Convention as the U.S. central authority.
It leads U.S. government efforts,
both within the Department and with other U.S. government
agencies, to assist children and families involved in abduction
cases in all countries, and reviews applications to partner
with countries that have exceeded to the Hague Abduction
Convention.
My Bureau leads the effort to engage governments
on Convention implementation, exceeding to the Convention
and providing assistance to families involved in cases
in non-Convention countries.
Our number one priority is the safety and protection
of U.S. citizens overseas.
This provides little solace to those parents
who are still waiting to see their children return home.
Only the safe return of their children matters.
As a parent and as an Assistant Secretary
of State for Consular Affairs, I pledge
that my team and I will continue to work
to resolve all abduction cases.
That includes working with Convention countries
such as Japan to resolve abductions
that occurred before our partnership
under the Convention took effect.
We are actively engaged with Japan in these cases.
Disappointingly few have been resolved
with the return of an abducted child to the United States,
or through meaningful parental access.
My colleagues in the Bureau, throughout the Department,
and at our embassies and consulates
abroad press our foreign government counterparts
on the issue of abduction and raise your constituents' cases
at every opportunity.
For example, we have requested the government
of India's assistance in resolving reported abduction
cases.
Special Advisor for Children's Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South
and Central Asian Affairs Ambassador William Todd,
and I all personally urged India to resolve reported cases
in recent meetings in New Delhi and Washington.
Additionally, officials at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi
are in regular contact with Indian foreign ministry
officials on these issues.
Mr. Chairman, let me again emphasize
my personal commitment and my Bureau's dedication
to prevent parental abductions.
The Department of State and our interagency partners
are committed to the implementation of the law
and to safeguarding and returning
abducted children to their places of habitual residence.
We are committed to insuring parents
have effective tools to resolve these cases in both Convention
and non-Convention countries.
As always I appreciate your interest, your feedback,
and your suggestions.
I look forward to your questions.