Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-102
§9112 Standards and Assistance
Title 22 › CHAPTER 98 — INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION AND RETURN › SUBCHAPTER I — DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIONS › § 9112
Summary
Make the Secretary of State ensure U.S. missions abroad use one reporting standard for child abduction and access, appoint one senior official per mission (mission head's choice) to help left‑behind parents, and monitor cases. Develop written plans for any country with 5 or more international child abduction cases.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §9112
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of State shall—
(1)ensure that United States diplomatic and consular missions abroad—
(A)maintain a consistent reporting standard with respect to abduction and access cases;
(B)designate at least 1 senior official in each such mission, at the discretion of the Chief of Mission, to assist left-behind parents from the United States who are visiting such country or otherwise seeking to resolve abduction or access cases; and
(C)monitor developments in abduction and access cases; and
(2)develop and implement written strategic plans for engagement with any Convention or non-Convention country in which there are 5 or more cases of international child abduction.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 9112
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102