The Caribbean and international child abduction – this is my child: Catch me if you can!

This chapter examines the extent to which countries within the Caribbean Region engage with the 1980 Child Abduction Convention. While scholars of Private International Law and other stakeholders recognise the benefit of having a structured framework within which to pursue the swift and effective return of wrongfully removed or detained children, not many Caribbean nations have become Contracting Parties to the Convention, and have thus not availed individuals within their borders of the mechanisms and assistance available under it. Of significance too, is that even among those territories in the Region that have Contracting Party status, there are gaps within their local frameworks that need to be addressed to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention. The chapter therefore also considers challenges that exist and corresponding recommendations.