Proceedings in case of child abduction

In cases where a person from Bosnia and Herzegovina seeks the return or contact of a child who is in one of the States party to the Convention, The Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with the request for contact with the child or the request for the return of the child, also forwards the necessary documentation to the foreign central authority in accordance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

The Ministry notifies the applicant of the measures taken by the foreign central executive body, as well as of the relevant information obtained during the procedure.

A similar situation arises when a request for the return of a child is made by a person from outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the child is in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In that case, once a request is received from the competent foreign central authority, The Ministry of Justice of BiH determines whether the request has been made in accordance with the Convention and, if it is in order, forwards it to the competent entity's Ministry of Justice, which in turn refers it to the court with actual and territorial jurisdiction for resolution.

If the request is incomplete, the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not dismiss it but will, through the central executing authority of the requesting State, request that the request be supplemented and completed in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

You can find a list of all central authorities of the Member States here.