Child Protection Services


DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A PARTICULAR CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN LEGAL COUNSEL.

This is an official U.S. Government source. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents .

Consular Child Protection Services for U.S. citizens abroad includes information on the following issues:

Other U.S. Department of State offices follow very carefully the following matters related to the rights of children. Links are provided for these important concerns.

CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

Consular Child Protection Services for U.S. citizens abroad in individual cases is the responsibility of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Office of American Citizen Services and Crisis Management. Our Office of Policy Review and Inter-Agency Liaison works closely with other U.S. Department of State offices, international organizations, and other U.S. Government agencies to develop policies and programs on child protection matters. Our Office of Children's Issues does not handle these matters. The responsibilities of our Office of Children's Issues include only International Parental Child Abduction and International Adoption

CONSULAR AUTHORITY FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS ABROAD:

  • 22 U.S.C. 1731
  • 22 C.F.R. 71.1; 71.6
  • Vienna Convention on Consular Relations ("VCCR"), 21 UST 77 (1963) and comparable bilateral consular conventions

Article 5(h) of the VCCR specifically provides that consular functions include, "safeguarding... the interests of minors and other persons lacking full capacity who are nationals of the sending state, particularly where any guardianship or trusteeship is required with respect to such persons."

Article 37(b) of the VCCR generally requires the "competent authorities of the receiving state" (i.e., the country in which a foreign national is found) "to inform the competent consular post without delay of any case where the appointment of a guardian or trustee appears to be in the interests of a minor or other person lacking full capacity who is a national of the sending state."

Article 24 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which the United States more than 140 countries are parties, provides that "every child shall have... the right to such measures of protection as required by his status as a minor, on the part of his family, the society and the state."

SELECTED FEDERAL STATUTES

Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 , as amended, 42 USC 13031 (Child Abuse Reporting)

Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-314)

  • 18 USC 2423(a) - transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
  • 18 USC 2425 - use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor
  • 18 USC 2423(b) - travel with intent to engage in sexual act with a juvenile
  • 18 USC 1470 - transfer of obscene materials to minor
  • 18 USC 1591 - Sex Trafficking of Children by force, fraud or coercion

Child Online Protection Act of 1998 (Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 4328, P.L. 105-277, Title XIV

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

International

U.S. Government Agencies

Bar and Bench

Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardians Ad Litem

Clearinghouses and Other Links

CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

CHILD EXPLOITATION

FORCED MARRIAGES OF MINORS

TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN

CHILD LABOR

OTHER CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES

TREATIES IN PROGRESS AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES FOR CHILD PROTECTION

OTHER CHILD PROTECTION RELATED LINKS

PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION AND INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION MATTERS

Our Office of Children's Issues is responsible for services related to international parental child abduction and international adoption matters.

Return to Consular Affairs Page

Return to Children's Issues Page