In Lisa’s mind, she had done what she had to do, removing her child from an abusive environment, one in which they had witnessed some of her ex-partner’s abuse of her (itself an acknowledged form of child abuse). She had protected herself and her child, doing what any mother would. But she had also, in the eyes of the law, abducted her own child. Now, under the terms of the Hague Convention that governs such cases across national borders, she was faced with the prospect of being ordered to return to Australia, from where she had just fled…
“He’s been abusive to me. I’ve got the evidence.” From a plastic shopping bag I hadn’t noticed until now, she started unpacking sheaves of paper and spreading them over the table in front of us. Photos of her face and body after he had beaten her. Printouts of messages between them. Even on first impression, this appeared shocking, but the only question now was whether she wanted to contest his application for a summary return order.
