Afternoon Training Program

Subject: Moot Court – Child Abduction and the Hague Court

Venue:  Embassy of the Czech Republic

• 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Registration for the event

• 3:00 – 3:05 p.m. – Opening remarks by Pavel Pitel, Counselor, Head of Consular Affairs, Embassy of the Czech Republic

• 3:05 – 3:10 p.m. – Remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary Karin King

• 3:10 – 3:25 p.m. – Remarks by Principal Legal Officer for the International Hague Permanent Bureau’s Latin America and Caribbean Region, Ignacio Goicoechea.

• 3:25 – 3: 30 p.m. – Moderator opens the roleplay by introducing the participating characters and describing the mock Convention case.

• 3:30 – 3: 35 p.m. – Mexican Central Authority (MCA) official will describe the procedures the MCA would go through while processing a case, covering topics such as required documentation and the role the MCA plays liaising with the U.S. Central Authority (USCA).

• 3:35 – 3:40 p.m. – USCA country officer will describe the procedures he or she would go through after receiving a case from the MCA, covering topics such as required documentation, location efforts, voluntary mediation, and Article 16 letters.

• 3:40 – 3:50 p.m. – Break

• 3:50 p.m. – Roleplay reconvenes.  Moderator directs judge and lawyers to take the stage.

• 3:50 – 4:00 p.m. – The attorney for the Left Behind Parent (LBP) and the attorney for the Alleged Taking Parent (ATP) make opening remarks outlining their respective cases.  The LBP attorney will cover the elements of the prima facie case.  The attorney for the ATP will preview plans to raise Article 13(a) and Article 13(b) defenses.

• 4:00 – 4:05 p.m. – Judge directs the LBP’s attorney to call the LBP to the stand.  LBP’s attorney questions the LBP.  Questions are designed to make the prima facie case, covering topics such as the habitual residence of the children, the age of the children, the LBP’s custodial rights prior to the alleged retention, and the LBP’s actual exercise of those rights.

• 4:05 – 4:10 p.m. – LBP’s attorney’s questioning concludes.  Judge directs ATP’s attorney to call the ATP to the stand.  ATP’s attorney questions the ATP.  Questions are designed to make arguments related to Articles 13(a) and13 (b) exceptions to return.

• 4:10 – 4:15 p.m. – Judge summarizes arguments and renders a decision, which should include provisions regarding the safe return of the children (the when, where, and how of the return arrangements).

• 4:15 p.m. – Judge renders a decision.  Moderator directs MCA country officer and USCA country officer to discuss the judge’s order and safe return options.

• 4:15 – 4:20 p.m. – MCA country officer and USCA country officer discuss safe return options.

• 4:20 – 4:45 p.m. – Moderator concludes roleplay and opens the floor to question and answer session.  Audience members ask questions to moderator and actors about the roleplay.

• 4:45 – 5:00 p.m. – Short Reception and Toast to the 2017-2018 Consular Corps Year and our Partnership with the Bureau of Consular Affairs.