Legal Definitions - International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993

The International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993 is a law in the United States that makes it a crime to take a child under the age of 16 out of the country without the permission of the other parent or legal guardian. This law was created to help prevent parents from kidnapping their own children and taking them to another country to avoid custody or visitation rights.

For example, if a divorced couple has joint custody of their child and one parent takes the child to another country without the other parent's permission, that parent could be charged with a crime under this law.

The International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993 also implements the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This is an international treaty that helps parents get their children back if they are taken to another country without permission. The treaty requires countries to work together to locate and return children who have been abducted across international borders.