Congressional Hearing on International Child Abduction

[Bob D'Amico]

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2011 – At a Congressional hearing today on international child abduction, David Goldman, Co-Founder of the Bring Sean Home Foundation (BSHF), read aloud an open letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed by left-behind parents and family members of 117 American children abducted to and retained in 25 countries. The letter was presented to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, chaired by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), as part of Mr. Goldman’s prepared testimony. Mr. Goldman’s complete testimony, including the letter, can be found at http://bringseanhome.org/index.html.

The letter states that “the continued retention of our children violates international law, ethical norms, and human decency. Put simply, our children have been stolen from us.” It goes on to state “there is an urgent need for change, not only to prevent more of our nation's children from being abducted across international borders, but also to effectuate the expeditious and safe return of our abducted children." According to BSHF Executive Director Mark DeAngelis, “the letter shows that these abductions are not isolated incidents and gives a voice to those parents who were not invited to speak at the hearing.”

In his testimony, David Goldman, whose son Sean was returned from Brazil after being illegally retained there for more than 5 1/2 years, addressed the flagrant injustice inherent in the present system. Under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Sean should have been returned to New Jersey within six weeks of his abduction. Goldman credited the return of his son to the extraordinary interventions made by Congressman Smith and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and direct appeals to their Brazilian counterparts by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. The majority of the other left-behind parents, however, do not receive the support that David did from their government, and their abducted children remain in unlawful retention indefinitely. Also testifying at the hearing were left-behind parents with children abducted to Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, and Egypt.

The number of international abductions continues to increase at an alarming rate. According to the U.S. State Department, in the last three years alone there have been 4,728 American children abducted to other countries. The Bring Sean Home Foundation hopes that this hearing will be the catalyst for lawmakers and the current Administration to come together and pass legislation to strengthen our country’s laws to prevent future abductions and persuade non-compliant countries to return abducted American children more expeditiously.

Missy reports that before reading the letter into the record David asked the Left Behind Parents in attendance to stand. Half the room stood up!

More information and hopefully video links when they become available.

[LukieD]

The text of the open letter to Secretary of State Clinton:

AN OPEN LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON
 
May 24, 2011
 
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State                          
US Department of State          
2201 C Street NW          
Washington, DC 20520
 
 
Dear Madam Secretary,

We, the undersigned, appeal to you for help as left-behind parents of 117 American children who have been abducted and remain unlawfully retained in 25 countries. We also represent a number of U.S. service members whose children were abducted while serving our country overseas. Some of these countries are signatories to the Hague Convention while others are not, such as Japan, where we face overwhelming odds trying to reunite with our children. We and our families are devastated − emotionally and financially − by the loss of our children and seek your assistance in ensuring that the U.S. Government is exercising all lawful means necessary to return these American children to their home country and reunite them with us.

The continued retention of our children violates international law, ethical norms, and human decency. Put simply, our children have been stolen from us, and it is our legal and moral right to be a part of their lives. As our 85 cases demonstrate, there are a growing number of countries willfully ignoring or abusing their international obligations with regard to international parental child abduction. Each of us has had exasperating experiences seeking justice in foreign courts, where our cases are often treated as custody matters, rather than as abduction cases. Often times, victim parents are told to use the court system of the foreign country when it is well known that such action will likely result in a decision with custody of our abducted children being awarded to the abducting party.

Collectively, we have limited or no contact with our children, many of whom have been turned against us as a result of parental alienation, a documented form of child abuse. Our children lost half their identities when they were ripped from their homes, families and friends. Like us parents, our children’s grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and other family members have holes in their hearts left by the abduction of their loved ones.
We were encouraged by your July 2010 appointment of Ambassador Jacobs as Special Advisor to the Office of Children's Issues (OCI). However, in working with OCI, we have experienced little improvement in the quality of service provided by the Department of State and almost no positive results. The current system has failed us. While our children remain unlawfully in foreign lands, the number of new child abduction cases from the U.S. continues to grow at an alarming rate. There is an urgent need for change, not only to prevent more of our nation’s children from being abducted across international borders, but also to effectuate the expeditious and safe return of our abducted children.

International child abduction is a serious human rights violation in desperate need of your attention. In our experience, all too often these international child abduction cases do not appear to be addressed aggressively because of the State Department’s effort to maintain harmonious, bilateral relations with other countries or to pursue other compelling foreign policy goals. The Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual on the issue of child abduction highlights this point by instructing OCI case workers to remain “neutral” when handling these abduction cases. This inherent conflict of interest cannot be ignored and we need to place a higher priority on the welfare of our children. We understand the necessity of maintaining strong relationships with other nations, but this should not come at the expense of our children.

Over the years, both houses of Congress have held numerous hearings on the issue of international parental child abduction, yet precious little has changed as our absent children grow older. On Tuesday, another group of parents will gather in Washington, D.C. for yet another hearing. It is our hope that this will be the year that Congress and the Administration unite to pass new laws to strengthen our nation’s capacity to help the parent and children victims of international parental child abduction. We also hope that the State Department, under your leadership, will embrace these changes to finally end this gross injustice affecting thousands of American children.

Madam Secretary, we applaud your past efforts and record on children’s rights issues, but we are desperate and plead for your assistance. It is long past time for this great country to show leadership on the issue of international parental child abduction. We cannot grow complacent with each successful return, nor can we forget about all the other children who are being wrongfully retained abroad. We are fortunate to have the strong support of groups which advocate for victims of international parental child abduction. However, we need our government’s unwavering support and determination to bring our children home.

Madam Secretary, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you directly to discuss how progress can be made. Please help us to be reunited with our children.

Sincerely,

David Brian Thomas, father of Graham Hajime Thomas (Nishizawa) (Age 20)
Abducted to Japan in November, 1992

Walter Benda, father of M.B and E.B (Ages 22 and 20)
Abducted to Japan in July, 1995

Charles A. Hamilton, father of Dakota Carmen (age 15)
Abducted to Spain in December, 1996

Eric Kalmus, father of Amy Ito (Kalmus), (age 14)
Abducted to Japan in 1998

James Filmer, father of Sarah (age 13)
Abducted to Germany in October, 1998

David Hendricks, father of Daniel and Patrick (ages 17 and 13)
Abducted to Norway in June, 1999

Mark & Lydia Harrison, father and grandmother of Jessica Danielle (age 15)
Abducted to Mexico in July, 2000

Craig Alciati, father of Peter Spencer (age 12)
Abducted to France in March, 2001

Michael C. Gulbraa, father of Michael K. & Christopher R. Gulbraa (ages 21 and 20)
Abducted to Japan in November, 2001

CDR Paul Toland, USN and Linda Toland, father / sole surviving parent and stepmother of Erika (age 8 )
Abducted to Japan in July, 2003

Richard B Kephart Jr and Martha Kephart, father and grandmother of Richard Kephart III and Nicolle Hyler Kephart (ages 15 and 10)
Abducted to Japan in November, 2003

Brett Weed, father of Takoda Tei Weed & Tiana Kiku Weed (ages 13 and 10)
Abducted to Japan in January, 2004

Klaus Zensen, father of Maria Carolina (age 7)
Abducted to Brazil in July, 2004

Ariel Ayubo, father of Lorenzo (age 10)
Abducted to Brazil in September, 2004

Robert A. McConnell, father of Bianca Damanik (age 8 )
Abducted to Indonesia in January, 2005

Deana Hebert, mother of Bianca Lozano (age 17)
Abducted to Mexico in April, 2005

Paul Brown, father of Liam Shiratori Paul Brown (age 8 )
Abducted to Japan in June, 2005

William J Lake, father of Mary Victoria Lake (age 14)
Abducted to Japan in August, 2005

Stephen Christie, father of James Kento Christie (age 16)
Abducted to Japan in October, 2005

John Donaldson, father of Michiru Janice Donaldson (age 10)
Abducted to Japan in November, 2005

George A. Petroutsas, father of Andonios (age 6)
Abducted to Greece in December, 2005, re-abducted in June, 2010

Michele Swensen, mother of Amina, Layla, and Sami (ages 14, 12 and 10)
Abducted to Yemen in February, 2006

Didier Combe, father of Chloe (age 7)
Abducted to Mexico in March, 2006

Kelvin Birotte, father of Kelvin Jr. (age 5)
Abducted to Brazil in July, 2006

Timothy Weinstein, father of Paul and Anna (ages 13 and 10)
Abducted to Brazil in August, 2006

Marty Pate, father of Nicole (age 10)
Abducted to Brazil in August, 2006

Nigel Lewis, father of Jasmyn Lewis and Cody Lewis (ages 9 and 7)
Abducted to Japan in November, 2006

Donna Hesse, grandmother of Kai Noel Hachiya (age 12)
Abducted to Japan in December, 2006

Michael McCarty, father of Liam Gabriele (age 9)
Abducted to Italy in March, 2007

Douglas Brian Gessleman, father of David and Joshua Gessleman (ages 7 and 9)
Abducted to Japan in May, 2007

Robert Carpenter, father of Natalie Elisabeth and Krystal Lynn (age 5)
Abducted to Colombia in June, 2007

Trevor Richardson, father of Andrew (age 5)
Abducted to Mexico in August, 2007

Paul Wong, father and sole surviving parent of Kaya Summer Xiao-Lian Wong (age 7)
Abducted to Japan in August, 2007

Kirsten M. Snipp, mother of Joichiro Yamada (age 13)
Abducted to Japan in September, 2007

Michael G. Canopin, father of Christian Lehua Haolalani Yuuki Inamura-Canopin (age 13)
Abducted to Japan in October, 2007

Jose Maria Cacho Polo, father of Jose Martín (age 11)
Abducted to Japan in January, 2008

Michael Sanchez, father of Emily Machado (age 5)
Abducted to Brazil in March, 2008

Randy Ernst, father of Joseph and Nicole (ages 13 and 11)
Abducted to Russia in May, 2008

Sean A. McKnight, father of Kelly and Julia (ages 15 and 7)
Abducted to Poland in May, 2008

Randy Collins, father of Keisuke Christian Collins (age 8 )
Abducted to Japan in June, 2008

Carlos Bermudez, father of Sage Antonio (age 4)
Abducted to Mexico in June, 2008

Bandi J. Rao, father of Anand Saisuday (age 6)
Abducted to India in July, 2008

Carl Hillman, father of Sean (age 8 )
Abducted to Japan in July, 2008

Conrad Washington, father of Conisha Kanna and Maximus Riku (ages 16 and 7)
Abducted to Japan in July, 2008

Patrick McCoy, father of Yuuki McCoy (Kojima) (age 3)
Abducted to Japan in August, 2008

Regan Haight, mother of Chloe and Aiden Kobayashi (ages 9 and 5)
Abducted to Japan in September, 2008

James Robert Allen, father of Joseph Martin (age 2)
Abducted to Colombia in September, 2008

Brandon C. Neal, father of Alexander Hikaru Neal (Sugashima) (age 4)
Abducted to Japan in September, 2008

Chandrashekar Mungaravalli Puttappa, father of Akshara (age 3)
Abducted to India in October, 2008

Michael Elias, Nancy Elias and Miguel Elias, father, grandmother and grandfather to Jade Maki Elias and Michael Angel Elias (ages 5 and 3)
Abducted to Japan in December, 2008

Jessie Duke, Roy Duke and Deborah Duke, father, grandfather and grandmother of Shanonyuma Ishida and Rikki (ages 8 and 4)
Abducted to Japan in December, 2008

Matt Wyman, father of Jake Taylor and Alex Michael (ages 10 and 6)
Abducted to Japan in January, 2009

Roy Koyama, father of Emily Alina (age 2)
Abducted to Costa Rica in February, 2009

Devon Davenport, father of Nadia Lynn (age 2)
Abducted to Brazil in February, 2009

John Henry Richardson III, father of Matthew and Dylan (age 8 and 7)
Abducted to Mexico in April, 2009

Dhanika Athukorala, father of Kali Soleil (age 3)
Abducted to Dominican Republic in April, 2009

Richard C. Nielsen, Peter Nielsen and Karin Heintz, father, grandfather and grandmother of Leo Nielsen (age 4)
Abducted to Japan in April, 2009  

Darshaun Nadeau, father of Kaya Nadeau (age 2)
Abducted to Japan in May, 2009

Mzimaz Youssef, father of Ghali (age 2)
Abducted to Morocco in May, 2009

James Patrick Carol, Jr., father of Andrea Vanessa and James Patrick (ages 7 and 6)
Abducted to Mexico in June, 2009

Tracy Baumgart, mother of Saxon Rayne Kawar (age 10)
Abducted to Jordan in July, 2009

Michael M. Bergeron, father of Ami Amor (age 6)
Abducted to Peru in August, 2009

Douglass Berg, father of Gunnar and Kianna Berg (ages 11 and 10)
Abducted to Japan in August, 2009

Christopher and Amy Savoie, father and stepmother of Isaac and Rebecca (ages 10 and 8 )
Abducted to Japan in August, 2009

Colin Bower, father of Noor and Ramsay (ages 10 and 8 )
Abducted to Egypt in August, 2009

Evangelina Pena, mother of Elias Badys (age 4)
Abducted to Morocco in September, 2009

Brett Purcell, father of Dante (age 1)
Abducted to Argentina in September, 2009

Bruce R. Gherbetti, father of Rion Suzuki, Lauren Gherbetti and Julia Gherbetti (ages 8, 6 and 4)
Abducted to Japan in September, 2009

Mark Gomez, father of Haydn (age 3)
Abducted to China in January, 2010

Jeffery Morehouse, Madeline Morehouse & David Sorlie, father, grandmother and grandfather of "Mochi" Atomu Imoto Morehouse (age 7)
Abducted to Japan in February, 2010

Stan Hunkovic, father of Gabriel Julius and Anastasia Sierra-Marie (ages 3 and 1)
Abducted to Trinidad & Tobago in February, 2010

Sara Edwards, mother of Eli Kiraz (age 3)
Abducted to Turkey in March, 2010

Michael Hassett, Dennis and Ann Hassett, father, grandfather and grandmother of Noah and Kynan Hassett (ages 10 and 7)
Abducted to Japan in March, 2010

Alex Kahney, father of Selene and Cale (ages 9 and 7)
Abducted to Japan in April, 2010

Brian Prager and Morton Prager, father and grandfather of Louis “Rui” (age 5)
Abducted to Japan in June, 2010

Antonio Quintana, father of Victoria and Virginia (ages 4 and 3)
Abducted to Argentina in July, 2010

Rex S. Arul, father of Rhea Immaculate (age 4)
Abducted to India in July, 2010

Simon Williams, father of Noan John (age 2)
Abducted to Brazil in August, 2010

Sheena Howard, mother of Talan and José Otavio Ribeiro da Silva (ages 5 and 2)
Abducted to Brazil in September, 2010

Dennis Patrick Burns, father of Victoria Emma and Sophia Marie (ages 4 and 2)
Abducted to Argentina in September, 2010

Richard Joseph Gatt, father of Natasha Joanie (age 6)
Abducted to Brazil in October, 2010

Douglas Trombino, father of Morgana Gray (age 2)
Abducted to Colombia in November, 2010

Ray Rose, father of Kaia (age 15 months)
Abducted to Japan in November, 2010

Robert W. Makielski, father of Isabel Marie and Gabriel Leonardo (ages 8 and 4)
Abducted to Dominican Republic in January, 2011

Tim Johnston, father of Kai Endo (age 6)
Abducted to Japan in March, 2011

[tweinstein]

I first contacted BSH in September, 2008. For the following months, I carefully tracked every media appearance and posted online that David was just one of many in similar situations. I doubt that, at that time, David or any of his friends running BSH realized the magnitude of the situation.

When I first met him in December, 2008, at the New York rally, there were only about 10 people who weren't part of his family. Although my children are still in Brazil, it's amazing to see how BSH has helped bring attention to the larger issue.

David, Mark, Bob, and everyone else are real deal. It would have been very easy to quietly disappear once Sean came home. They didn't, and for that, I have nothing but respect for them.

[JerseyGirl]

I caught the last few minutes of the webcast about 45 min. ago, Rep. Smith said he's not giving up until it's law.  Right now there are links to everyone's testimony on the Committee Hearings page - except for that of Carlos and Joshua Izzard:

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearings.asp

[JerseyGirl]

http://chrissmith.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=242880

Parents of Abducted U.S. Children Tell Their Stories
'Left behind' parents of children illegally held in Japan, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico & other Countries Speak at Hearing

Washington, May 24 - The voices of heartbroken but hopeful ‘left behind parents’ longing to be reunited with their abducted children echoed in a congressional hearing today chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights.

There are more than 2,400 American children held wrongfully overseas.

“International child abduction rips children from their homes and lives, taking them to a foreign land and alienating them from a left behind parent who loves them and who they have a right to know,” Smith said. “Their childhood is disrupted, in limbo, or sometimes in hiding as the taking parent seeks to evade the law, or to conjure legal cover for their immoral actions. Abducted children often lose their relationship with their mom or their dad, half of their identity and half of their culture.  Click here to read the Congressman’s testimony.

Congressman Smith told the parents he introduced legislation, H.R. 1940, to raise the profile of the issue of international abduction by appointing a new Ambassador-at-Large for International Child Abduction. The ambassador would head a new office charged with helping left behind parents secure the return of their children and collect detailed information and report on abducted children in all countries.

One key witness at the hearing, David Goldman, of Tinton Falls, N.J., the father of an abducted American boy who was held in Brazil for nearly five years, testified about his battle. Following intense pressure from Congress, the U.S. State Department and international media, Brazil returned the boy home to the United States. Goldman said Sean will be 11 years old tomorrow, May 25, which also happens to be International Missing Children's Awareness.

“With all the assistance and support I received, after over four years and then another year and one half after the death of his first abductor, on Christmas Eve 2009, my son and I were finally reunited and returned home,” Goldman said. “It was nothing short of a miracle. Even after five and one half years of my son's illegal retention and documented abuse, he is now home and he is flourishing.” Click here to read Goldman’s testimony.

Other witnesses include left behind parents whose children have been taken to countries signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as well as countries not signatory to the Hague.

Smith said the U.S. State Department’s 2010 Hague Convention Compliance Report highlights 15 countries (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey) for failing to enforce return orders. Many other countries (Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Honduras, Mexico, the Bahamas, and St. Kitts and Nevis) are failing to abide by the Hague Convention provisions concerning the central authority charged with implementing the Convention, the performance of their judiciaries in applying the Hague Convention, and/or the ability or willingness of law enforcement to ensure swift enforcement of orders issued under the Convention.

[liesl78]

Back from the hearing. The place was so packed that some people got turned away. I was fortunate enough to get a seat. I couldn't stay for panels 2 & 3, so I left after Carlos' testimony. Indeed, when David asked the LBPs to stand, half the room stood up and we all had to fight back tears - some did not succeed.

Rep Chris Smith said he reintroduced the International Child Abduction Act as HR 1940 (I have to confirm this #) yesterday.

I watched David's testimony - which was 25 minutes long (testimony + letter), Sara Edwards - whose 3-year-old son was take to Turkey by his father, and Carlos. I was able to videotape David & Carlos. As soon as I upload the videos, I'll post them here. I couldn't videotape Sara's since my camera was *still processing* David's when it started. I already apologize in advance for any possible shaking and the 123456 people that walked in front of the camera.

Per Congressman Smith's staff, the hearing was supposed to be broadcast tonight, either 8:00 or 8:30pm on C-Span 3.

[lovellboys]

Asking the LBP's to stand.....incredible.  That had to make an impression.  I'm looking forward to the video.  Great job. 

I want to start the calls and emails about HR 1940....so let us know.

[pam.in.ny]

If CSPAN put the video online, would someone please post the link for those of us who weren't able to attend?

Can't wait to get started with HR 1940. It sounds like marching orders are soon to come and we're ready. Will the bill be reintroduced as it is or were there changes?

Is everyone ready to start marching?

[liesl78]

Photos here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1922922026239.110571.1037748487&l=de307f2e9b

Please let me know if you have trouble viewing it.

I have to divide David's testimony in 3 videos in order to post. I'll come back with the link once I'm done.

[Nicole's Dad]

While I applaud the attention we as LBP's are getting on this issue thanks be to God and to BSHF, I still see all of this as lip service until there are actions behind this. When the actions start taking place and we have a president that has the juevos to take this law, if it passes, and use it on behalf of the children, only then will I fully believe. I am very hopeful by the recent events and I stand and applaud this organization for your tinacity and not giving up. Thank you to Mark, Bob and most of all David Goldman for standing up to the big dogs and not backing down.

[Nicole's Dad]

Statement for the Record
Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
International Child Abduction: Broken Laws and Bereaved Lives

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to submit a statement for the record on behalf of my constituent – a parent of an abducted child – Mr. Robert ‘Marty’ Pate. He, like all other witnesses on the panel today, has experienced the emotional and financial hardship that accompanies the international abduction of a child. His story illustrates the need for the federal government to do more in assisting parents of abducted children.

In 2001, Mr. Pate married Monica Dutra, a Brazilian national. The two had a daughter, Nicole Dutra Pate, and were later legally divorced in Houston, Texas in February 2005. A district court in Harris County issued joint custody orders over Nicole. In July 2006, Ms. Dutra approached Mr. Pate about her desire to move back to her home country of Brazil with their daughter. In complying with the custody order, which provided Mr. Pate the opportunity to refuse the relocation of his daughter, Mr. Pate refused and informed Ms. Dutra that she would need to seek legal permission for Nicole to return to Brazil with her. Ms. Dutra did not receive such legal permission. Instead, on August 31, 2006, Ms. Dutra fled to Manaus, Brazil with Nicole and has yet to return. Mr. Pate’s daughter has remained in Brazil, against her own free will, since this time.

After receiving no real assistance from the federal government, Mr. Pate contacted my office for help. For almost five years, my office has worked with the U.S. Department of State and its Brazilian counterpart, the Brazilian Central Authority (BCA), to seek justice for Mr. Pate’s case. It has taken years for the BCA to provide answers and when received, we are left with additional questions that continue to go unanswered. Meanwhile, Mr. Pate has endured years without seeing his daughter. He has exhausted all financial means to travel back and forth from the U.S. to Brazil to visit his daughter on several occasions. The emotional price he has had to pay, however, is not quantifiable.

The U.S. and Brazil, along with many other countries, have agreed to comply with the Hague Convention. Since 1988, the Hague Convention has served as the international standard for enforcing the return of abducted children to the U.S. Pursuant to the Hague Convention, Brazil is required to return Nicole to the U.S.. However, Brazil has failed to comply. In an act of exasperation and desperation, Mr. Pate has given up trying to obtain custody of Nicole. He is simply desperate to see his daughter and to have her visit with him and her family in the U.S. Despite this change in Mr. Pate’s position, Brazilian officials are still stonewalling his request and are ignoring their legal duty. While, the U.S. continues to pressure Brazil to follow its international treaty obligations, the federal government has not done enough to sanction the kidnapping of American children. I look forward to the day where Mr. Pate feels some sense of justice as his daughter steps off a plane into the U.S. to visit with her American family. And that’s just the way it is.

[Trevor Richardson]

I was impressed with all three panels!  Everybody did a great job and I only wish I could have been there to show my support.  

I listened to the whole hearing on-line and a couple of times I had to dab my eyes.  I was there in spirit and I hope the momentum from this hearing continues and I look forward to any upcoming marching orders and any other other suggestions for support.

Trevor

[KarlHindle]

Here's the link to the video - Carlos was obviously restrained viz the DoS:

http://international.edgeboss.net/wmedia/international/af05242011.wvx


Advance to approx 3min 20sec for audio to begin / video launches soon after.

TIMELINE: HOUR:MINUTE:SECOND

~00:03:20 Chris Smith: Opening Statement

PANEL I - Hague Country Abductions
~00:38:40 Chris Smith: Opening
~00:41:15 David Goldman Testimony (Brazil)
~01:08:20 Sara Edwards Testimony (Turkey)
~01:15:15 Carlos Bermudez Testimony (Mexico)
~01:23:50 Closing Q&A

PANEL II - Non-Hague Country Abductions
~02:05:00 Chris Smith: Opening
~02:06:20 Michael Elias Testimony (Japan)
~02:16:00 Joshua Izzard Testimony (Russia)
~02:31:10 Colin Bower Testimony (Egypt)
~02:38:25 Closing Q&A

PANEL III - Industry Experts
~03:00:00 Chris Smith: Opening
~03:03:10 Patricia Apy - Attorney, Paras, Apy & Reiss, P.C.
~03:22:45 Kristin Wells - Partner, Patton Boggs LLP
~03:45:15 Jesse Eaves - Policy Advisor for Children in Crisis, World Vision
~03:50:05 Closing Q&A

~04:16:30 Chris Smith: Closing Statement

[liesl78]

Well, I guess I don't have to upload mine now... The audio is a little weird, as if it had a buzzing sound. Is that happening to everyone?

[r12221968]

KarlHindle,

That link is not getting any video connected, no sounds or picture. What's wrong?

Here's the link to the video - Carlos was obviously restrained viz the DoS:

http://international.edgeboss.net/wmedia/international/af05242011.wvx