Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center August 31, 2017 Via E-mail Mr. Michael S. Coffee, Esq. Attorney-Advisor Office of Private International Law U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Mr. Philippe Lortie First Secretary Ms. Maja Groff Senior Legal Officer Permanent Bureau Hague Conference on Private International Law The Hague The Netherlands Re: Comments on Draft Guide to Good Practice on Article 13(1)(b) of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Dear Michael, Philippe, and Maja, Thank you for the invitation to submit comments of the draft Guide to Good Practice on Article 13(1)(b) (the “Guide”). We also greatly appreciated the opportunity to voice comments in person at the public meeting, and your willingness to hear from those of us working with victims of domestic violence who are directly impacted by Article 13(1)(b) decisions. AODVC: Who we are and how what we do pertains to the Guide I am writing on behalf of American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVC) as its Founder and Executive Director. AODVC works with abused Americans in foreign countries to provide domestic violence and child abuse advocacy. We provide resources and tools so that victims can navigate the complicated jurisdictional, legal and social international landscapes, to be able to live their lives free of abuse. The services that we provide include case management, Business Office: (503) 203-1444 | Fax: (503) 203-5999 Address: Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center 25 NW 23rd Place, Suite 6 PMB #461, Portland, OR 97210 Website: | General | Outreach
Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center August 31, 2017 Via E-mail Mr. Michael S. Coffee, Esq. Attorney-Advisor Office of Private International Law U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Mr. Philippe Lortie First Secretary Ms. Maja Groff Senior Legal Officer Permanent Bureau Hague Conference on Private International Law The Hague The Netherlands Re: Comments on Draft Guide to Good Practice on Article 13(1)(b) of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Dear Michael, Philippe, and Maja, Thank you for the invitation to submit comments of the draft Guide to Good Practice on Article 13(1)(b) (the “Guide”). We also greatly appreciated the opportunity to voice comments in person at the public meeting, and your willingness to hear from those of us working with victims of domestic violence who are directly impacted by Article 13(1)(b) decisions. AODVC: Who we are and how what we do pertains to the Guide I am writing on behalf of American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVC) as its Founder and Executive Director. AODVC works with abused Americans in foreign countries to provide domestic violence and child abuse advocacy. We provide resources and tools so that victims can navigate the complicated jurisdictional, legal and social international landscapes, to be able to live their lives free of abuse. The services that we provide include case management, Business Office: (503) 203-1444 | Fax: (503) 203-5999 Address: Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center 25 NW 23rd Place, Suite 6 PMB #461, Portland, OR 97210 Website: | General | Outreach