Avenue de l'Europe
Iglesias Gil and A.U.I. v. Spain 
| 2003
...Article 8 includes a right for parents to measures that will enable them to be reunited with their children and an obligation on the national authorities to take such measures...
Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, July 2003
María Iglesias Gil gave birth to a baby boy. The father was her former husband. María was given custody of the child, whilst the father was granted access. However, the father abducted the boy and took him to the United States.
María asked the courts to issue an international search and arrest warrant for the father, so that she could regain custody of her son. However, the courts refused to do so and closed the case.
Under international law, the United States authorities would have been obliged to help with the return of the child had they been asked. However, the Spanish authorities had failed to make the request. This breached María's right to family life and the return of her child.
Spanish law was changed after the European court agreed to review the case. Child abduction was classified as a more serious crime, so that courts can now issue international arrest warrants for people who take children away from their lawful parents.
The father in this case brought the child back to Spain from the USA for a visit. With police help, María managed to get her son back.
Spain