About the Hague Study

The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of the situation of women who have come into the United States with their children after leaving an abusive relationship in another country and who then become involved in a legal dispute under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction.

Very little information is available to explain the situation of women who have dealt with domestic violence and been involved with Hague cases. Our goal is to use the information we gain to create a guide for judges and attorneys that will help them to recognize domestic violence in Hague cases and respond to better ensure safety and justice for mothers and their children.

This study includes interviews with mothers, as well as the attorneys and judges involved in Hague Convention cases. We are recruiting mothers, attorneys and judges for participation through published legal records in Hague-related cases, and through contacts with attorneys and women who have been a part of these cases. If you are a person who thinks you may be eligible for this study, or you know someone who has been involved in a Hague case, please contact us at 1-866-820-4599 or via email at info@haguedv.org

We have taken several precautions to ensure that the information shared with us cannot be identified with a particular person or subpoenaed to be used against you. We have further information about the protections we have put in place for your safety and confidentiality here.

Your story is important and we hope you will share it with us!

This study is affiliated with the University of Minnesota and the University of Washington and is funded by the National Institute of Justice. For more information on the study, please contact the co-Principal Investigators for the project, Dr. Jeffrey Edleson or Dr. Taryn Lindhorst by clicking here.