The Disputed Minors Task Force, whose physical meetings had been suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic, met today at the Foreign Ministry. Chaired by the Directorate General for Italians Abroad, it was attended as usual by representatives of the Ministries of Justice and the Interior.
As a fundamental occasion for sharing the action to be taken on cases of international abduction, the Task Force reviewed the synergies between the Italian administrations involved in the difficult management of disputed minors which, despite the pandemic, have not decreased in number. In 2021 alone, 65 new cases have been recorded so far, mainly in Europe (42), followed by the Americas (14), the Mediterranean and the Middle East (7) and Sub-Saharan Africa (2).
As of today, finally, a total of 433 cases of international abduction are currently being processed by the Foreign Ministry.
The Task Force meeting was also an opportunity to enhance awareness of the innovative Guide on Disputed Minors, an easy-to-read tool created by the Foreign Ministry that provides concrete guidance and support for the mothers and fathers of minors who have been abducted from abroad.
