§9009 Office of Children’s Issues

Summary

The Secretary of State must pick a senior Director to lead the Office of Children’s Issues. That Director must have strong consular experience and provide long‑term leadership. Starting April 1, 2000, the Office must have enough case officers so each one averages no more than 75 cases. Every U.S. diplomatic mission must name one employee to handle parent‑child international abductions, and the Director must regularly tell that employee about U.S. children taken to that country. Beginning six months after November 29, 1999, and at least every six months after that, the Secretary of State must send each parent who asked for help an update on their abducted child’s case. The update must state the case’s current status and what the Department is doing. Updates are not required if the case was closed and the parent was told why, or if the parent asked not to receive reports.