La sottrazione internazionale dei minori: Un contributo d'indagine

International kidnapping of children: a contribution to the investigation This contribution describes an investigation regarding the international kidnapping of children, was carried out on a sample of 30 cases brought to the attention of the International Social Service of Rome in 1992. The phenomenon of kidnapping over the last few years has acquired a particular profile, especially with the increase in marriages between partners of different nationalities and cultures: in the event of separation the conflict arising in mixed marriages can force one of the 2 partners to “kidnap” the children with their illegal transfer from their place of residence to another State. The characteristics of the people involved in the kidnapping, the judicial procedure, the presence of the professionals and the measures adopted were investigated using a file of collected data, purposely compiled, that included precedent research material. The complicated implications in National and International Law that this phenomenon raises will also be described. From the results kidnapping has emerged as a strategy having little opposition in fact, almost unbeatable as a means of keeping the child.