E-books

Peter Thomas Senese’s CHASING THE CYCLONE: Catalyst Behind Protecting Over 100 Children of Parental Abduction

The Critics Are Raving About Peter Thomas Senese’s

CHASING THE CYCLONE

For nearly every author, myself included, the desired outcome of writing a book is to have some type of influence on others, including raising the bar on awareness of issues presented in the written story.

Chasing The Cyclone is a deeply inspired story reflective of my own personal journey dealing with international child abduction. I wrote this story in hope to help raise awareness on the growing pandemic of international parental child abduction that could see as many as 100,000 innocent children kidnapped from the United States alone over the next ten years.

Sadly, the vast majority of children do not ever come home. And for the targeted parents of abduction, their lives are permanently destroyed.

After my family’s ordeal, I decided to do something about it. This included writing a book based upon my knowledge of child abduction.

But there was more to be done. Afterall, children’s lives were at stake – and anyone who may think that a child abducted by one parent from another is not at risk, please take note that several hundred children are murdered each year by their parents in the United States alone – and statistically, filicide knows no boundary.

So in a rather short time, I formed the not-for-profit I CARE Foundation, which has helped protect over 100 children targeted for abduction or helped legally reunite kidnapped children. In fact, the I CARE Foundation has created more than a few miracles, helping safely reunite kidnapped children taken to every continent on the planet, including multiple children abducted to Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

The I CARE Foundation’s work in legally rescuing children does not only follow the needs of children of parental abduction. With a great sense of pride, I am proud of the work we have done in assisting free young children, particularly young girls, who have been trafficked and imprisoned into the world of human sexual slavery.

Along the way, the I CARE Foundation has built a large attorney network of lawyers dedicated to assisting children at risk of abduction. We have helped create new laws and policies geared toward protecting children at risk of kidnapping.

Yes, the power of a book is alive and well. I am both humbled and proud of how Chasing The Cyclone has made a sizeable and measurable difference for so many children. Unquestionably, many miracles have been built from the publication of Chasing The Cyclone.

I am pleased to share some of the testimonials about Chasing The Cyclone.

Here are a sampling of critics reviews:

Click here to purchase an e-book copy of Chasing the Cyclone (hardcover due out this Spring, 2013).

CHASING THE CYCLONE

“Chasing The Cyclone is a well-written thriller . . . Senese shares myriad emotions by writing in the first-person as he weaves through the action in this suspense-filled story . . . Filled with a plethora of powerful characters and puzzling predicaments and dead ends, the story moves quickly . . . Cyclone will leave you informed and satisfied . . . you will be reluctant to put down.” – New York Journal Of Books

“Peter Thomas Senese is a gifted storyteller who takes readers on a heart pounding journey around the globe . . . The writing is raw and the emotions are real . . . The story is filled with twists and turns . . . You will not be able to put it down. It may very well change the way you look at life, child custody, and interactions with your child’s other parent. I cannot endorse this book strongly enough.” – The Examiner

“Suspenseful! Nail-Biting! Engaging! These are just the outer layers of Peter Thomas Senese’s emotionally charged … Chasing The Cyclone [is] an intricately woven web outlined in 400-pages that includes lawyers, lies, international laws and politics, betrayal, court appearances, and how one parent can shrewdly use the innocence of a child as a pawn to exact revenge, to spew hate and to extort funds from the financially able parent. Senese’s Chasing the Cyclone_ is powerful because it is borne from experience. It is richly detailed and emotionally wrought with an accuracy that can only be known by those who endured such traumas. Well-written and expertedly executed: A must read!” – V Stevenson, Reviewer at Kirkus

“Peter Thomas Senese now opens the windows on the magnitude of these tragedies in his excellent “Chasing The Cyclone”… As if the fast paced energy of this story weren’t enough to satisfy the reader, Peter Thomas Senese demonstrates his quality as a writer of distinction on many levels… this impossible to put down book.” – Dr. Grady Harp: Amazon Hall Of Fame Reviewer

“If I had to use one word to describe Chasing the Cyclone by Peter Thomas Senese it would be phenomenal. As in remarkable. Extraordinary. I have read many books over the years, for enjoyment, for education, because I had to, because I wanted to. I cannot think of any other book that comes close to making me feel as I did when I read this book. I believe these feelings will stick with me forever.” – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Click here to purchase Chasing The Cyclone.
Click here to visit the official website of Chasing The Cyclone.
Click here to visit the I CARE Foundation.
Click here to read more about my charitable donations and work with children.

~ Peter Thomas Senese

Young Girls Rescued From Child Sex Trafficking Ring

I AM NOT FOR SALE

For the past couple of months the I CARE Foundation has played a heavy role in assisting in the planned and successful rescue of 15 young girls who were previously kidnapped and enslaved into the world of the child sex trade in Central America. The abducted children were all kidnapped from their homes in various countries in Central America and wrangled together into one horrible, disgusting working brothel, where they were literally imprisoned as monstrous men and women (yes both men and women) would have their sexual way with them. Mind you – these victims were children, many who were not yet teenagers.

Today these young girls are free, reunited with their families, and receiving the medical and psychological care they need. Their respective journeys will be unique to their own circumstances; however, the trauma they shared will bind them forever. So too, I hope, will the love and care they are receiving, that I pray, will allow them to learn how to trust once again.

The physical health issues and damage done is severe for some of these child victims. It is insane what was done. However, the necessary teams are well underway, providing each with the care they need.

And if you’re wondering about the monsters that did what they did to these innocent children, rest assured they will not be victimizing and preying on any young children anytime soon. Ongoing investigations by the proper trusted authorities continue to work to close down the ancillary abduction rings that prey on children.

The complexities of the journey from enslaved prisoner to becoming a free child are remarkable for each of these children. Their roads ahead of them will be long and challenging; however, like I said, there are teams in place who are working closely with each child and their now reunited families so that the necessary healing takes place so that perhaps one day, magic will be restored.

I know many of us are committed to this, and I know this committment is one that I will hold for the rest of my life.

There is no question WHY we must all rise up and fight against predator kidnappers, no matter if that abductor is a parental abductor or stranger abductor. I remind you that hundreds of children are murdered each year by their parents in the United States alone each year and that filicide is a real threat, particularly among parental child abductors.

There is no question WHY we must not permit the child sex trade to exist anywhere in the world. We must renounce places such as Thailand, China, Costa Rica, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and other impoverished countries, including those in Africa, who turn a blind-eye toward the child sex trade and allow monsters to walk among us.

There is no question WHY we must stand and do what is necessary in our own way to protect the innocence of a child, regardless if that child is targeted for abduction and trafficking or if that child sees the world in a different way due, say to being on the autism spectrum. The point being, children should never know abuse.

Several months ago, I announced the production of a film on international child abduction titled ‘150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children’, which I have been working on for some time now. The remarkable recovery of these young children will be shared in our film, in hope that the message shared will further push world governments into understanding that each nation really needs to have international abduction prevention laws and policies that make it extremely difficult for children to be illegally removed from one nation to another. Of course there is a whole agenda of policy shifts we will address.

So . . . our work continues.

I would like to thank all of our friends who kept and keep these children and their families in their prayers. They all have a long road ahead of them and surely will need your continued prayer.

But step by step, the lives of these children and their families are being put back together, and we’re doing whatever is necessary to help bring back the idea that life really can be magical.

In fact, yesterday I had an opportunity to speak with several of the young children.

What did I say?

I reminded each of them that life is magical and that they must have fun. And that I am so proud of each of them, and of course, I will see them again real soon . . . amongst other things.

I know they know the love I have for them, and am blessed to know that these children have embraced my caring. Most of all, I am comforted in knowing that they have embraced the caregiving extended to them by professionals who are able to attend to their issues.

* * *

Every once in a while I reflect upon my journey into the world of abduction. At the pinnacle of my thoughts is the promise I made to one day help other children and their families targeted or taken during the time when I was Chasing The Cyclone.

The I CARE Foundation has directly come to the assistance of over 100 families over the past 14 months. We have helped bring home a significant number of abducted children while preventing the abduction of many more children. We have helped create and lobby for new laws and policies that will protect children from abduction, and have taken our agendas onto the world stage. We have built an attorney network – educating as many professionals and parents – on abduction prevention and reunification. And we have a very big agenda for 2013 that I am confident will make a big impact in the fight to protect children.

I am very proud of our organization and our members. But most of all, I am very proud of the parents I have come to know and care deeply about who have fought for their children. Truth is, I have many friends in my life, but the parents who I have come to know over the past 7 years have become my family, and their children my adopted nieces and nephews, many who I speak to often.

Last night, I had the chance to speak to my dear friend Amanda’s two young daughters, who I absolutely love.

Several years ago, when Amanda first contacted me, her daughters were at great risk of abduction to Saudi Arabia, and asked for assistance in ensuring that her children would not be kidnapped to a nation that women had no rights. Well, we did what we had to do, and the children are safe . . . and I intend to ensure that they are always safe.

And over the years, I have spent some wonderful time with Amanda and her two daughters, including time at Disney World.

So last night, as I often do, I called Amanda right before the girls went to bed to find out about their day and to wish them a good night.

The last words they said to me before I hung up the phone was, “Good Night, Peter Pan.”

It is a reminder that children should never be left in Neverland.

Best regards to all,

Peter Thomas Senese
Founding Director
The I CARE Foundation

Peter Thomas Senese and I CARE Foundation Confirm New Film: 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children

I am very pleased to confirm that I will be producing on behalf of the I CARE Foundation and Pacifica an upcoming feature documentary film 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children focuses on the cataclysmic growth of international parental child kidnapping in the United States, Canada and abroad. The film will dissect why the hideous crimes against innocent children has reached pandemic levels that have claimed so many lives and what can be done to prevent abduction, while also offering solutions that should be implemented that can help current child-victims of cross-border kidnapping.

The film’s title 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children originates from a widely distributed and cited study titled Crisis In America written by renown child advocate Carolyn Vlk (a member of the Board of Directors of the I CARE Foundation, and a member of the Special Advisory Board of the Amber Watch Foundation) and myself. 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children is the average weighted forecast of that takes into consideration how many children living in The United States, Canada, and Mexico are anticipated to actually be internationally parentally kidnapped over the next ten years.

The film will bring viewers into several intriguing parental child abduction cases, through the legal system available to targeted parents and children, the psychological trauma of kidnapping and its effects, and eventually above a microscope looking at the government agencies and their existing policies responsible for protecting children. Paramount to the film’s direction is the intent to offer new solutions to a serious social problem that in the United States alone is expected to cost the American economy over six billion dollars over the next decade.

150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children will also focus on how children of both parental and stranger-abductions are easily removed from one nation’s border to another under existing policies in North America, and particularly in Europe.

The I CARE Foundation and several of its Board of Director members have been studying key aspects of international parental child abduction for some time. 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children will include substantial data and information based upon these unique and groundbreaking studies. Studies and information, I might add, that I fully expect will change the landscape of abduction prevention. Which is, by virtue, the mission of the I CARE Foundation.

And of course, I am thrilled to once again be working and writing with Carolyn Vlk, who is one of the brightest and most knowledgeable persons concerning abduction that I know. In the past, Carolyn Vlk and I produced the important educational documentary film series Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms of Child Abduction that has come to benefit many targeted parents from around the world, as well as our publication of the most up-to-date resource guide on child abduction prevention and reunification titled The World Turned Upside Down.

As a storyteller deeply familiar with the world of child abduction, it is my personal hope that this film will not only raise awareness of parental abduction so targeted parents may act to protect their families, but it is my aspiration to also provide keen social insight into the horrors that exist so our lawmakers will move on new laws and policies that will help protect children in a similar manner that we accomplished through passage of Senate Resolution 543, the State of Florida’s Child Abduction Prevention Law, the State of New York’s and the State of California’s criminal Cyber-Impersonation and Cyber-bullying laws, and the implementation of the highly effective abduction prevention tool – the federal Prevent Departure Program by the Department State in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.

150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children will be released during the late Spring – early Summer, 2013.

Similar to all projects associated with my work as a child advocate and steward raising awareness of child abduction, the 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children film is personally funded through charitable donations from my business holdings.

For those of you interested in learning more about abduction and my writing, may I suggest you read my critically acclaimed novel Chasing The Cyclone – and remember, 100% of all my proceeds from sales of all my books are presently donated to the I CARE Foundation, which sure has created more than a few miracles for children.

Attorney Joel Walter, who is a member of the I CARE Foundation’s board of directors and one of the best litigators I know, and who, over the course of many years, has represented many professional athletes and entertainers, and who is intimately involved in the upcoming production recently wrote, “The research on abduction the I CARE Foundation has and continues to conduct is critical to the fight to save children of kidnapping’s lives. In Mr. Senese’s upcoming 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children film, the work of the I CARE Foundation will act as the story’s rudder, guiding the narrative into a solution-oriented universal message. On a personal note, I continue to be flawed at the deep commitment of Mr. Senese, including using a tremendous amount of his personal resources, in our fight to help families in crisis. As a critically acclaimed storyteller and one of the most committed and published child advocates around, combined with the data drawn from the I CARE Foundation’s research, we expect 150,000 Internationally Kidnapped Children to become a socially important and influential film.

Peter Thomas Senese: Looking Back At The I CARE Foundation’s First Year

It has been a little over a year that the I CARE Foundation began our formal operations working toward trying to dramatically reduce the number of children who are fallen victims of the crimes of international parental child abduction or child trafficking.

The I CARE Foundation has had success on many levels, including reuniting numerous internationally kidnapped children with their parents while also preventing an even greater number of abductions from occurring. Due to the nature and sensitivity of many of the cases we are involved in, we are mindful not to discuss any role we play or our involvement even after a child is returned because children of abduction, sadly, are considered high-risk targets for an attempted second abduction.

Nevertheless, I know I speak on behalf of the I CARE Foundation’s entire board of directors when I say that we always keep in mind the wonderful words shared with us by many of the parents who we have assisted. Their words of thanks and appreciation move us deeply while reminding each of us how important our work is.

But our work protecting children is not simply found in successfully assisting the many dozens of families we have over this past year. And before I go any further, I will be the first to say that reuniting children of abduction or preventing a child’s international abduction is not easy: the laws are not helpful, the scheming parents seem to have a hidden playbook on how to abduct, countries often do not uphold international law, and the financial costs of recovery or prevention is incredible: thus, there are times when despite our capabilities, our efforts may not result in a recovery or prevention of abduction.

Fortunately, there have been many successes, while remaining committed to those we seek to help.

However, our primary mission is to conduct research in the area of international parental child abduction and child trafficking, publish and widely disperse our findings, and then use our data to help drive new policies and laws that will help protect children. Considering the I CARE Foundation is a non-profit organization fueled by the financing made available by our board of directors, it is encouraging at this point just how far we have come in a year.

You know, one person’s voice really can make a difference. And humbly, it was during the time that I was ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ of international parental child abduction that I thought one day I would use my skills and capability as a best-selling author to help other parents and children facing a world of abduction that does not make any sense: the world of international parental child abduction. Fortunately, I had a starting point that would allow me to set the wheels of advocacy in motion because I had a platform to stand on: you see, it took a great deal of everything, but I was able to reunite with my child despite unthinkable hardships and challenges, and in doing so, I also learned a great deal about child abduction.

Using my skills as a writer, I then wrote the deeply personal fiction novel ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ that was overwhelmingly inspired by my life’s experiences that book critics have praised. I am very proud of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ because, as it has been properly stated in the press, it is a book that creates miracles.

Now you might be asking yourself how does a book create miracles? To begin, the knowledge shared with other targeted parents has helped many reunite with their children or helped them protect their kids.

In addition, I have donated 100% of all of my various books proceeds and ancillary income to the I CARE Foundation, including 100% of my revenue generated from all e-book sales of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ (hardcover will be released in early 2013: 4.8 Star Rating: 40+ Reviews) to the I CARE Foundation. Fortunately, I have been blessed to be able to make several important donations to the foundation that has unquestionably rescued and protected many children.

As for the I CARE Foundation, some of our successes include but are not limited to:

Reuniting numerous abducted children with their families.
Assisting in the prevention of the international kidnapping of many targeted children.
Conducting and publishing important research in the area of child abduction.
Using our research findings to either drive or initiate new laws and policies geared to protect children and their families.
Creating a nation-wide attorney network of lawyers capable of assisting families in crisis due to actual or potential abduction.
Launching a successful campaign seeking attorneys to join the U.S. Department of State’s Hague Convention Attorney Network.

There are no words that I could ever use to explain the heart-felt joy I feel knowing that so many children have been assisted because of the I CARE Foundation’s work. Nor could there ever been words that could mirror the hurt I feel when I come to learn of a parent and child’s suffering due to abduction. It is what drives all of us to make a difference.

In little over a year, the I CARE Foundation’s accomplishments have had a positive social impact. It was an honor to participate in the United States Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program at the United Nations. It was an honor to accept a magnificent American Flag that was flown over the United States Capitol in my honor, and I sure am looking forward to traveling to the Hague and visiting the Peace Palace in the early part of 2013.

When I look out at the number of lives the I CARE Foundation has knowingly touched, and consider the number of individuals we will have a positive impact for that we will never know or meet, the writer inside of me smiles because I know without my desire to write ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ the I would not have sought to create the foundation. Clearly, the power of books and writing are alive and well. And I am thrilled to know that the foundation’s operations, board of directors, advisory board, and international reach and presence will be expanding in 2013.

On a personal note, and outside of the joy I feel knowing of the children we have helped, it has been richly rewarding to develop friendships with some truly remarkable, loving parents who it is my honor to call ‘friend’.

In the spirit of friendship, I know that 2013 is really going to be the Year of the Child.

On a final note, please remember, Christmas is Child Abduction Season. Educate yourself so that you and your family can have a Happy Christmas. And as for me: I will continue to stand up to kidnappers of children . . .

Peter Thomas Senese

Founding Director
I CARE Foundation

An Abduction That Won’t Happen This Holiday Season

Don’t Let Your Child Be Internationally Abducted This Christmas

Several weeks ago the I CARE Foundation began an educational campaign reminding parents that the Christmas Holiday Season is International Parental Child Abduction Season. In an effort to raise awareness, I had written a series of essays that were posted on an assortment of websites.

Our warning to parents to be mindful of the possibility of abduction during this time of year must be taken seriously.

Earlier today, one of the I CARE Foundation’s board members was contacted by a parent who shared information with one of our directors concerning the other parent of the child. What she shared included:

A strained relationship that included acts of abuse.
A new-found ‘love’ by the other parent and desire to make the partnership work.
A request to travel abroad to that other parent’s family, which so happens to be the country of origin and citizenship of the partner.
A recent selling of a car for at least $7,500.00; however, no deposit of the sale has occurred in any bank accounts the inquiring parent has access to or is aware of.
Discovery of the child’s educational transcripts.
Recent shipment of clothing to help out ‘the poor’.
Late night ‘walks’ that appear to be time when secretive phone calls are made as indicated by discovery of international pre-paid calling cards.
A previous false claim 2 months ago of domestic violence.

After hearing of these events, the I CARE Foundation board member made some suggestions that might give more clarity on whether an international parental child abduction is planned.

Sure enough – the parent followed the instruction provided. Discovery unquestionably shows abduction during the Holiday is planned.

. . . It may be planned . . . but it sure is not going to happen.

Friends – pay attention to this article below, share it, re-post it, talk about it …. but get the information out.

Chasing The Cyclone
by
Peter Thomas Senese

Parents Dealing With Divorce Should Not Let Their Children Travel Abroad With The Other Parent During The Christmas Holiday Season – International Parental Child Abduction.

The Christmas Holiday Season is also one of the most prominent times of year when many children are internationally abducted by one parent from another. It is critically important that any parent who is in a partnership with an individual who originates from or has family abroad to be highly suspect of the possibility of international parental child abduction during this time of year.

As in all cases of parental abduction, these crimes against children are well-thought-out, well-planned and designed to catch a targeted parent off-guard and unsuspecting that a horrible scheme is underway to have their child taken.

And the schemes that eventually see children abducted or illegally detained abroad are being carried out right now.

However, if you know the warning signs to look for, parents have a fair chance of protecting their child or children from abduction.

With 100,000 to 125,000 American Children and anywhere from 12,500 to 20,000 Canadian children reported to be expected to be internationally abducted over the next ten years DO NOT STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE GROUND: International parental child abduction is a pandemic that silently steals children.

Don’t let your child be abducted. Educate yourself.

You should know only an estimated 10% of all children internationally abducted ever come home.

What To Look For

In many instances of cross-border parental child abduction that occurs during the holiday season, generally the largest number of incidents takes place when one parent travels to another country with their child or children of a relationship accompanied by, or with the initial consent of the other parent.

Generally, the travel takes place under a guise of a holiday trip abroad to visit family members of the parent intending to abduct. Of course, the targeted parent is clueless as to what is really going on.

So for example, Father X was born and raised in the Middle East but married Woman Y, who is an American citizen. The couple lives in the United States, where their child was born and raised.

Unknown to the the woman in the relationship, the husband wants to end the relationship and relocate back to his country of origin back in the Middle East. However, he has one problem: he knows that his wife will never allow for him to legally take the child with him.

So instead of announcing his true intent to separate, the husband will create critically important misdirection. Meaning, he will do everything possible to make his wife believe that he is happy and committed in the relationship.

I did say everything possible.

Why?

Becuase it is critical that she put her guard down and not suspect any foul play or scheme.

In the meantime, little things – that are really big things – may be taking place visibly or without knowledge of the targeted parent. There are many warning signs to look for, but if the subtleties are not carefully considered, then the would-be abductor will get away with their plan.

So the husband who is intending to abduct the child by wrongfully detaining the child abroad will continue to create a facade of being happily married and committed to the relationship while carefully laying out a plan to get the child abroard.

Eventually, and right about this time of the year, the would-be abductor makes the suggestion that it would be ‘great’ or ‘nice’ or ‘meaningful’ to travel abroad together or without the other parent (depending on reasonable circumstances) in order to see his parents, siblings, and extended family. And of course, all of this is in the best interest of the child of the partnership.

Now, since the wife may believe the husband is committed to their relationship and does not even consider that he may have intent to not return to their marital home, she more than likely is willing to consent to the holiday vacation.

Unfortunately for the mother and child, the trip takes place.

Unknown to both, the parent intending to abduct has already hatched a well-thought out plan, including what may be necessary to keep the child abroad while removing the other parent’s rights to the child abroad.

Everything is deception – and everything must be considered.

For example: the husband may ship certain belongings like a crib or a stroller and other items of the child that may create the appearnace the other parent knew he was relocating – and gave consent! Or, he may have begun to move his assets abroad.

Once abroad with his wife and child, the woudl-be abductor may make false accusations of child or spousal abuse (men and women both claim abuse in cases of of planned abduction), claims of drug use, or any other claim that may indicate that the child is at risk.

By stating the child is at risk, this could potentially allow a local court in the foreign country to grant him immediate custody of the child – even though the child’s original jurisdiction is in the country they were born and raised. In addition, in cases where a Hague Application may be filed, the abductor has laid ground for an Article 13 Defense (which evolves around the best interest of the child).

If it sounds complicated, it is.

It is important for individuals married or in a relationship with partners who originate from non-Hague countries such as those located in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to understand that if you are traveling to nations located in these areas and the other parent intends to not return to the child to the country of original jurisdiction, there is a very good chance they will be successful in keeping the child abroad . . . and your contact will be limited or absolved completely. Additionally, it is important to pay careful attention to Hague-Convention non-complying countries such as Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and Poland.

Of course, if you ever plan to travel abroad and have been involved in a suspicious or strained relationship, please contact an attorney who is familiar with international parental child abduction prevention.

Though I am not an attorney, I would highly advise you consider obtaining a court order prior to travel that the child is to be returned. However, remember – in countries that are not members of internatinal treaties regarding abduction or do not comply to such said treaties – if a child is taken – it will be very costly and difficult to bring your child home.

So – if you have any suspecion that an abduction might be planned – and this time of year is the planning period for the high number of Christmas Holiday Abductions that occur – seek the advice of a qualified lawyer – and do not let your child travel abroad under any circumstance. Pay attention to the warning signs and act now!

To read about Chasing The Cyclone’s impact, click here. To purchase Chasing The Cyclone, please visit Amazon or BN.

Most of all, if you are in a multi-cultural relationship and you think there may be a chance that your spouse or partner may try to abduct your child during the coming holiday season, please pay attention to the information I have provided. International parental child abduction is only three degrees of separation from impacting someone you know.

THE I CARE FOUNDATION

Upcoming Report On Financial Burden Of International Child Abduction In the U.S. Expected To Report Extensive Losses For Targeted Parents: WHTI Policy Flaws Cited

Authors and child advocates Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk recently published report on international parental child abduction originating from the United States points to major loopholes in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative as a primary reason how American children are illegally removed from the country.

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 06, 2011

A landmark study conducted by child abduction prevention advocates Carolyn Ann Vlk and Peter Thomas Senese reveals astonishing loopholes in Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) travel documentation requirements for children 16 years old or younger that inadvertently have created substantial opportunities for international parental child abductors and human traffickers who target thousands of U.S. children each year for cross-border abduction.

The report is titled “International Child Abduction and Human Trafficking In The Western Hemisphere,” and is contained in the child abduction prevention advocates’ recently published resource guide on child abduction titled “The World Turned Upside Down”, which has been made available as a free E-book by the authors.

The extensive study focuses in part on the limited ground and sea travel documentation requirements needed for children traveling to contiguous nations as defined by the WHTI, including to the two nations that represent the highest concentration of abduction cases to and from the United States: Mexico and Canada, while also focusing on illegal travel to the Caribbean via cruise ship.

Under existing United States WHTI policy, a child under 16 years of age traveling by land or by sea to Canada, Mexico, or any number of Caribbean island-nations is required to present as little as a photocopy of their nationalization papers such as a photocopy of a birth certificate. No valid passport is required unless a child is traveling by air. With fraudulent travel documentation being a major issue for the Department of Homeland Security, it is clear that all travel of minors must include use of a valid passport regardless of how travel is conducted.

According to the 2010 Report on Compliance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspect of International Child Abduction prepared by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, there were 1,621 ‘reported’ international parental child abductions originating from the U.S. during 2009. The average growth rate over the past several years is approximately 20% per year.

Additionally, the number of ‘unreported’ cases of international child abduction to contiguous nations is believed to be substantial and is discussed in “Crisis in America: International Parental Child Abduction Today” that is included in Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk’s “The World Turned Upside Down.” Supporting the concern of the existence of significant ‘unreported’ cases is the most recent National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART-2) study, which reports that of the 203,900 children that are estimated to be parentally abducted annually in the U.S., only 28% (56,500) of these abductions were reported to law enforcement.

The “International Child Abduction and Human Trafficking In The Western Hemisphere” report has two main objectives: the first goal is to raise awareness of the loopholes traffickers and child abductors may utilize to facilitate their criminal acts of child-stealing so that targeted parents of child abduction, the judiciary and its court officers, law enforcement officials, and policymakers may act to protect children from this hideous type of crime. The second objective is to offer potential solutions through preventative measures and legislative changes that may assist in preventing child abduction and human trafficking as it is uniquely related to current WHTI policy.

In addition, the child abduction prevention advocates have recently created a White House petition site urging others to share their voice in seeking to modify the existing WHTI policy so that all U.S. citizens, regardless of age, must travel with a vaild passport.

Peter Thomas Senese, the author of the upcoming novel ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ critics have called a ‘Call-To-Arms’ against child-stealing that was inspired by his experience as a father who faced international parental child abduction stated, “The information furnished in our report provides substantial insight on how each year thousands of targeted children of international abduction living in the Western Hemisphere, including a considerable number of defenseless U.S. children-citizens, may be criminally transported across international borders. The loopholes in current government policy that may allow abductors to steal children across international borders are severe. In releasing this comprehensive study and by offering measurable solutions, it is Carolyn Vlk’s and my aspiration to raise awareness so that existing policy may be changed in the name of our children’s best interest.”

Carolyn Ann Vlk commented, “International child abduction and human trafficking are urgently critical issues that necessitate an immediate response. As children do not have the ability to protect themselves, we must continue to identify risk factors and loopholes that lead them to becoming victimized. The current situation is intolerable and the sheer numbers of children that are disappearing is unacceptable. These are horrendous crimes which mandate our highest priority and that necessitate legislative changes to take place immediately at the federal level. A mandate requiring a passport for all international travel will create the type of change necessary to further protect the innocent ones from this unconscionable crime.”

Mr. Senese added, “In the near future, we will be releasing a comprehensive study on the financial cost and financial loss associated with international parental child abduction originating from the United States. Our preliminary findings are shocking, and surely will open up many lawmakers eyes on the exteme financial impact international parental child abduction has on our nation and its economy. All this aside – what we’re interested in getting our hands around is rather straight-forward: we want to fully understand how our children are being abducted and what can we do about it. Obviously prevention is key. And that means we must, under all circumstances, modify the WHTI because we’re not talking about 1 or 10 or 100 defenseless American child-citizens lives here, we’re talking about thousands of children. And this is unacceptable.”

Costs for targeted American citizen parents associated with an international parental child abduction include but are not limited to extensive legal costs in the United States and abroad (to the country that the child was illegally taken to and/or detained in, costs associated with finding a child if the child’s location is unknown or costs associated with hiring private security to monitor the child’s whereabouts while legal proceedings take place, and travel related costs associated with a targeted parent’s litigation and hopeful reunification abroad. In addition, the financial burden for the courts and law enforcement are also extensive.

Best-selling author Peter Thomas Senese stated, “When we consider the growing rate of abduction for reported international child abduction cases and the anticipated growing rate of abduction for unreported international child abduction cases in the Untied States, and then factor in the overall costs associated with an abduction, including factoring in a series of additional factors as will be reported in the upcoming study, the overall financial impact on American citizens over a ten year period will far exceed One Billion dollars.”

To read more about the “International Child Abduction and Human Trafficking In The Western Hemisphere,” please download a free copy of “The World Turned Upside Down.”

Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk Make Major Contribution To Child Abduction Prevention Community: Publish Historic Resource Guide

Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk are child abduction prevention advocates who have spent endless resources researching issues related to international parental child abduction (IPCA). Recently, the child advocates published the historic ‘THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN’, a 330 page resource guide containing groundbreaking research and landmark findings on a diverse number of issues surrounding IPCA. At the core of the manifesto, the authors ask the questions, “How are our children being internationally abducted, and, what can we do to prevent this from happening?”

Reviewers, critics, and more importantly, the intended audience of ‘THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN’ – targeted parents of at-risk children and professionals and advocates who actively act to prevent abduction from occurring have praised Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk’s publication as a resource tool that has had a significant impact on the safety of many children.

Peter Thomas Senese commented, ‘THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN’ is the product of years of research and study into various issues of child abduction. Both Carolyn Vlk and I volunteer our time and resources to this important issue because it is our hope to stop as many child abductions as possible from occurring. Unfortunately, too many targeted children and many family law practitioners are not fully aware of the complex issues of international child abduction. So we decided to publish this extensive resource guide and make it free for everyone who needs it, while also using our finding to push for new state and federal laws and policy that will prevent international child abduction.”

Written reviews of ‘THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN’ tell a story of two child advocates making a positive difference in the lives of many. For insight on the high-impact work of Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk, please read the following reviews:

Written By: Joel S. Walter (Esquire and Renown Child Advocate)
The World Turned Upside Down is a must read for all parents! The authors, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk are leading advocates in the world of International Parental Child Abduction. Mr. Senese’s work in this area is exemplary and impactful, and he and Ms. Vlk, author of Florida’s Child Abduction Law, have both been successful ‘chasing’ parents, and they offer a detailed manual providing that which one needs to know if one’s child is at risk …The WORLD provides one with strategies by explaining the different laws and treaties that come into play regarding child abduction. Also, the authors provide the reader with those “risk factors” to watch for and methods to protect against a child’s abduction with steps to take should the abduction actually occur.It is critical that any partner in a cross-cultural relationship pay attention to the risk factors which are detailed by the authors …This clearly written resource guide will either help prevent an abduction or assist in the recovery of your child … The authors have demonstrated their activism by uploading a full free copy of The World Turned Upside Down which is a HOME RUN! Kudos!

Written By: Jill Jones-Soderman (Executive Director: ‘The Foundation For The Child Victims Of The Family Court’)
We wish to note that Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk’s THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is filled with accurate, usable, effective information dealing with that which is certainly one of the most horrifying experiences of a parent’s life, the abduction of their child by a co-parent.In fact, it is in the authors’ clear and thoughtful research on various issues concerning international parental child abduction that new and important light is shed on critical topics that ask the questions ‘How are our children internationally kidnapped?’ and ‘What can we do to prevent this?’ In answering these questions in various ways, Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk continue to assess previously published statistics, research, and data, and analyze how this information was derived. What has become clear and certain is that the general public, the court’s, lawmakers, and attorneys know very little about international parental child abduction, and the widespread impact it has on society. Concrete material which galvanizes the strength of a stricken parent includes such material as the research report titled ‘Crisis In America: International Parental Child Abduction Today’ …Truly, for the first time has there been a thorough analysis that provides the full view of abduction, while also dissecting and discarding previously inaccurate information based on faulty past studies … Another brilliant component of THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is a section titled ‘International Parental Child Abduction and Human Trafficking In The Western Hemisphere’. Here, the authors hit pay-dirt. In asking the question, ‘How are our children abducted?’, the authors are led toward studying the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Under the WHTI, it has become clear how children are abducted. Specifically, the WHTI allows for children under the age of 16 traveling by land or by sea from the United States to present a photocopy of their citizenship papers such as a birth certificate! As the authors point out, only the use of a passport at departure provides some control over possible abduction … Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk have created a highly valuable manifesto on international parental child abduction prevention and recovery that is clearly geared toward two objectives. The first is obvious: to help other parents and children who are targets of abduction. The second objective is to create a highly informative and accurate resource for lawmakers, members of the judiciary, and child advocates alike, as the authors focus their actions toward changing, modifying, or implementing new law and policy at either a state or federal level … THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is a unique, outstanding, generous contribution unknown to date for its desire to help a huge public that has suffered immeasurably for lack of information as to how to proceed and who to trust in their quest to find a missing/lost child. THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN by child advocates Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk is a true manifesto that every parent potentially at risk, that every family court lawyer, and every lawmaker interested in protecting our nation’s children should read.

Written By: Rianna Pearson (Targeted Parent of at-risk children)
Undeniably, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk’s `The World Turned Upside Down’ is so much more than a brilliant resource guide selflessly created by two highly respected child abduction prevention advocates who have had an immensely impactful influence on a large and growing global community seeking to find effective remedies to this abusive crime against children. And I know this first-hand because I am a parent at risk who was able to protect my three children from abduction due in no small way because of Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk’s intervention and the knowledge they directly shared with me which is also contained in `The World Turned Upside Down’. The reality is my children were not abducted to a foreign country because of the information contained in `The World Turned Upside Down’ and the extraordinary knowledge and actions of Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk … There are individuals who decide to act in the face of adversity in order to help others. In creating `The World Turned Upside Down’, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk have not only acted and acted again, but the information they share will help many others throughout the world … `The World Turned Upside Down’ is a carefully written manifesto on how to stop a growing worldwide problem. As for Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk, what can I say? I know if it was not for them, my children would be long gone. As I shared earlier in this review, “God bless both of you, and thank you so much for all you did for me and my children.” Help other customers find the most helpful reviews.

Written By: G. Nyberg (Renown Child Advocate)
The World Turned Upside Down is written by a parent who experienced firsthand the horror, pain, and financial burden of having his child abducted. Peter got directly involved in the search for his son and remained persistent in his quest despite the many setbacks and obstacles. Through his experience he recognized the necessity to help and educate parents facing the same circumstances. Peter wanted to empower parents with the knowledge, statistics, contacts, and networks he discovered effective and useful, so he wrote, “The World Turned Upside Down”. This book is essential for not only parents searching for their children, but for law enforcement, advocates, an NGO, and other professionals involved in international child abduction and human trafficking … The World Turned Upside Down is a must read not only for parents at risk of child abduction, such as those who believe a non-custodial parent is capable of taking their child illegally and leaving the country, but for anyone close to them.

Written By: Amanda Bayoumi (Targeted Parent of At-Risk Children)
In THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk have created an extraordinary vital tool for any parent who’s child is at risk of international parental child abduction or has been criminally abducted. Packed with a plethora of resources,important contacts and information right at your fingertips, THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is the creation of years of research complied into to a easy to read format that will be always evolving based on the needs of the left behind parent. This will be a living and breathing book that with completely change the fight against international parental child abduction. I applaud the authors for their significant effort to help parents like myself who have been targets for a potential criminal child abduction. Not only has the written book THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN been a great resource to me and my legal representatives, but the material presented has in fact made a very big difference on my and my children’s safety. I am extremely grateful that this book has been published and made available the way it has. Clearly both Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk dedication to helping parents and children like myself is most commendable. THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN is a must read for targeted parents of abduction, lawmakers, and most of all, judges who oversee cases involving children and a potential abduction risk.

Written By: David Bokel (Child Advocate and Targeted Parent)

The World Turned Upside Down is a great resource for law enforcement, judges, lawyers, legislatures, and parents. It is so painful to imagine your own child suddenly missing. Many parents and whole communities of people do not know what to do when a child goes missing. This book provides valuable answers. If more people worked on prevention, there would be fewer children missing. We need to look past the pain in order to find ways to prevent child abduction. I invite all to educate themselves and work hard to advocate for our children and reduce the numbers of children abducted. Together we can make a difference for the benefit of our precious children.

Written By: Vivian Middleton (Child Advocate)
The World Turned Upside Down is a book that is filled with Knowledge. Knowledge is POWER! Parental Alienation is an Epidemic throughout our world, yet very little is being done to prevent it. This book offers the reader to gain the knowledge necessary to bring about CHANGE! If one sit’s idly by and does nothing, then nothing changes. I can not emphasize enough just how very important it is for each of us to become involved. I feel that this book gives one an extended helping hand in bringing about a profound change and protect our children from such a horrific episode in their life and that of their loved ones, that forever leaves permanent scars. This is a preventable occurrence. But one must want and seek out change. I think that this book offers so much information to those who have not fully explored the World of Parental Alienation. It offers so much to those who are going through it. A GREAT RESOURCE of INFORMATION. Well worth reading and sharing and doing everything possible to bring about change to protect the innocent children that we are suppose to protect.

Written By: Peggy G – (Grandparent of at-risk children)
The “World Turned Upside Down” by Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk is a book that has truly impacted my family’s life. Speaking from experience, I know first-hand the serious challenges that a parent faces when their child is at risk for international child abduction. In my family’s case, this is even more true when the other parent is from the Middle East and from a country that is not a party to any international treaty and where women are not nationals of that nation and have NO rights. There is no doubt that abduction prevention is the key. Every case is unique and with jurisdictional laws that vary from state to state, it is so important to have the critical and up-to-date information on international parental child abduction and prevention that is found in “The World Turned Upside Down.” It is a wonderful gift that Peter and Carolyn have given to all of us to provide great insight on every issue that a targeted parent or family MUST pay attention to. I urge every parent involved in a cross-cultural relationship to read “The World Turned Upside Down.” Don’t wait. It may very well be the most important book you will ever read. On a personal note, I want to thank Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk for being so dedicated to helping other parents and their children. Their work and actions alone with my family have made such a big difference and we are so thankful to them both.

Written By: N. Caraballo (Child Advocate)
Although I was not personally and directly involved during the time in which the International Parental Abduction was committed in our situation, I am now having to deal with the aftermath and prevention of a potential re-abduction of a minor child that I have come to love, care and cherish. Although our child is back home where he belongs in Florida, the hardest and most challenging issue has been to educate the judge and the legal system to put in place the preventive measures to avoid another re-abduction. This book has all the information to educate the judges, courts, and attorneys to take into consideration the preventive measures that can be put into place to avoid re-abduction by the parent who have no respect to the laws of our country. I’ve learned so much from this book. Parental International Abduction is a CRIME, it is CHILD ABUSE!! Let’s get together and spread this informational book to avoid and deter those people who think they can commit this crime and get away with it!! THANK YOU, PETER AND CAROLYN FOR SHARING ALL THE INFORMATIVE RESOURCES CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK. I know with all this information, we can continue to stay strong and keep our child safe at home!

Written By: Ann Kerlin (Child Advocate)
It is sad and disgusting to know that grown adults play a cat and mouse game with one another using their own child(ren) as a pawn. In a lot of instances, one parent abducts their child(ren) from the guardian parent and crosses international lines to flee and hide. The mental and spiritual damage this causes to the child(ren) is staggering yet it doesn’t just continues but is growing more rampant each year. On top of having to deal with parent against parent, there are also still many child(ren) abducted by strangers for whatever reason, be it greed or just evil intentions. In order to bright light to this worldwide epidemic, Peter Thomas Senese, being experienced as a “Chasing Parent” himself and Carolyn Ann Vlk, who has experienced the threats of abductions of her son, wrote this comprehensive e-book to outline the numbers (which is staggering), the financial burden on the “Chasing Parent” of trying to recover their abducted child(ren), as well as resources that the “Chasing Parents” can utilize to perhaps locate and recover their abducted child … As much as we want to keep our eyes closed to this type of tragedy, they happen and more times than we would like. Kudos to Peter and Carolyn for their hard work and dedication in bringing this book and awareness to the forefront.

Written By: Stephen Bryer (Targeted Parent Of At-Risk Children)
I hope it is not viewed as to strange to say in my review of THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN ‘God Bless both of you, Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk’: without the information that you have provided in your incredible resource guide, I am certain my son and daughter would be long gone and out of the country. It was due to the information you created that my lawyer was able to persuade the court to act carefully and not permit my ex-wife leave the country with my son and daughter. As it turned out, she had every intention of abducting my kids and staying in Russia … The acts of Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk to create such a thorough and detailed guide – and publish it for free only leads me to say one thing: God Bless you, Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk.

For more information, please visit http://www.peterthomassenese.com/ or http://www.chasingthecyclone.com/

Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk Release Landmark Open-Tablet E-book Publication on International Child Abduction ‘THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN’ To Aide Targeted Children And Raise Awareness Of Growing Epidemic

Best-selling author Peter Thomas Senese along with child advocate Carolyn Ann Vlk have announced the official E-book publication release of their groundbreaking international child abduction prevention open-tablet resource guide titled ‘The World Turned Upside Down’.

Demonstrating the child abduction prevention advocates ongoing commitment to assist targeted children and their parents against the rapidly expanding criminal act of international parental child kidnapping while also seeking to raise the public’s awareness of the growing epidemic of cross-border child abduction, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk have made the highly informative ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ available as a free E-book to ensure that the information provided is immediately accessible to those who may desperately need it.

‘The World Turned Upside Down’ by Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk is a unique and extensive resource guide containing significant and relevant information on international child abduction including a series of landmark research studies that will be of great interest to any individual concerned with preventing either domestic or international child abduction, including targeted parents, law enforcement officers, courts, social workers, lawmakers, and other professionals who advocate for children and who are interested in understanding and preventing this serious and dangerous crime against unsuspecting children.

Unique to the child advocates’ efforts, ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ takes shape in the form of a virtual E-book that is expected to be frequently updated with new content, information, and material as relevant and useful information concerning international child abduction becomes available. In essence, ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ (315 pp) is the foundation for what will become a very unique open-tablet cyber-library capable of providing critically important, easily accessible information on international parental child kidnapping to all individuals in need of such information.

Peter Thomas Senese previously created and produced along with Carolyn Vlk the groundbreaking 9-part educational documentary film series on criminal international parental child abduction titled ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’, and is the author of the upcoming critically praised novel on international child abduction titled ‘Chasing The Cyclone’. Mr. Senese commented, “It has been Carolyn and my intent to continue to make a substantially helpful impact for defenseless children and their parents who are targeted by predator parents or others intent on committing the criminal and cruel act of international child kidnapping. One of the many aspects that makes ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ a unique book is that in its open-tablet E-book format we will be able to add new and relevant material and cross-index this information as it comes to light so individuals in need of the new information will have immediate access to it. What we’re creating is a living E-book that is expected to evolve into a single-resource for the millions of targeted parents, law enforcement officers, lawmakers, and child advocates from around the world who are interested in stopping child abduction.”

Co-Author Carolyn Ann Vlk included, “Peter and I have been extremely committed to raising the public’s awareness on the high-growth and seriousness of the crime of international parental child abduction while also seeking to implement child abduction prevention measures such as the state of Florida’s Child Abduction Prevention Act that is now law, or the implementation of the federal ‘Prevent Departure Program’, which is now a widely dispersed and extremely useful tool used to combat international parental child abduction here in the United States. Our present activity includes creating new legislation that will close the significant abduction and trafficking loopholes associated with the ‘Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative’ that clearly has created a black hole on international abduction and human trafficking We’re actively engaged in creating legislation that will hold non-citizen child abductors accountable for their kidnapping crime with respect to our nation’s immigration policy. And we’re actively seeking solutions that will take a stand against dual-passport issues with respect to a child of duel citizenship possessing a foreign passport when this child has been declared a risk for criminal abduction by one parent.

“In our extensive voluntary child abduction prevention activity together, Peter and I continue to ask the questions, ‘How and why are our children being criminally internationally abducted at such staggering rates, and what can be done about it?” ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ takes into consideration, and offers answers to many facets of these questions while also providing valuable insight on the issues at hand that are based upon our extensive and ongoing research as demonstrated.”

Peter Thomas Senese, reached in Washington, D.C. where he was actively educating policymakers on the proposed WHTI modification legislation added, “Tragically, there is limited social understanding as to the inherent cruel acts of child abuse and serious dangers associated with the pandemic of international parental child abduction. And despite parental child abduction being a federal crime of kidnapping in the United States, as well as in most every other nation, the growth of these malicious acts against children has increased in substantial part due to failures by lawmakers to create child abduction prevention laws, and more glaringly, even greater failures by the judiciary to implement and uphold these laws created in order to protect children from the act of international criminal kidnapping. Thus, in part, it is our hope that ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ sheds further light into just how dangerous a situation we have on our hands, while offering certain solutions that can make a sizeable difference in curtailing the unyielding growth of international parental child abduction and child trafficking. In reality, there are very real solutions that can be implemented that will dramatically reduce the number of criminal abductions, I think the key is to look within at prevention issues, while of course, holding all nations accountable who do not comply with international law.”

According to Carolyn Ann Vlk, “The statistical challenges of this pandemic as published in ‘Crisis In America: International Parental Child Abduction Today’ Peter Senese and I previously released include the harsh reality that many nations do not even attempt to keep record of how many children are criminally removed from their borders each year. And those nations that do, such as the United States, have only published the ‘reported’ number of cases without providing any insight into what clearly is a much more sizeable number of ‘unreported’ cases of international child abduction. There are millions of children each year around the world who are targeted for abduction each year, with a substantial number of these children intended to be removed from their native country of origin. In fact, if the growth rate of international parental child abduction continues to rise as projected, in the year 2020 alone the United States will have more children criminally parentally kidnapped from our nation’s borders than can fill a professional baseball stadium!”

The outlook for parents of children criminally kidnapped abroad seeking to reunite with their kidnapped children is tragically alarming. For instance, there are approximately 200 criminally abducted U.S. and Canadian child-citizens illegally detained in Japan right now. In our history, no U.S. or Canadian child who was abducted from either the U.S. or Canada has ever been returned home. None. Ever. Japan is a black hole of child abduciton where no child has ever been legally brought back. Sadly, there are many black holes.

The title for the publication ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ was created due to the reality that many parents who are targeted for international parental child abduction enter into a nightmarish ordeal where limited help and understanding is found, and the majority of criminally kidnapped children are never returned. Supporting this reality is Janice L. Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs for the United States Department of State who writes, “Very few options exist for parents and children who are victims of parental child abduction.” Ms. Jacobs also stated, “Unfortunately, current trends reflect a steady increase in the number of international parental child abduction cases and highlight the urgency of redoubling efforts to promote compliance with [Hague] Convention obligations and encourage additional nations to join the Convention.”

Ernie Allen, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children has previously stated, “The problem of missing, abducted, trafficked and sexually exploited children is large, growing, under-recognized and under-reported” Mr. Allen observed, “Children are the single most victimized segment of our population. Even with all of the progress we have made, most Americans still don’t understand that basic fact. According to Justice Department research, more than 2,000 children will be reported missing in the United States today!” Additionally, Mr. Allen stated, “The numbers are staggering. The tragedies continue and too many children do not make it home.”

David B, a father who successfully reunited with his previously abducted child commented, “IPCA is a severe crime against both the child and targeted parent. The malice of an abducting parent is well documented by leading experts and government officials in the United States and elsewhere. The fact is, international child abduction is a criminal act of kidnapping. The severity of this crime can be long lasting for the child. Today, we need to uphold the criminal statutes in place in order to protect our children. Those individuals known to have criminally abducted a child internationally should not be allowed back in the country due to the severity of their crime and the likelihood that they will attempt to re-abducted a child once again: an occurrence that is well documented. ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ is an incredible resource guide that not only will help targeted parents, but will educate policymakers as to just how bad and dangerous this situation really is. The book’s free release and the material contained in it demonstrates how deeply committed and knowledgeable Carolyn and Peter are to helping children everywhere.”

A. Castro, whose child was previously criminally abducted to Europe, successfully reunited with his child, to only need to act again to prevent a second abduction added, “The failure by courts and their judges to understand the gravity of international parental child abduction and the ease of which a parent can criminally abduct a child has led to the substantial spike in the number of tragic abduction cases. The information contained in ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ and the selfless and dedicated efforts of Carolyn Ann Vlk and Peter Thomas Senese to provide assistance to targeted children and parents like myself is incredible. This publication is an extremely helpful resource guide every person involved in child abduction should read.”

Gloria Nyberg, a leading child abduction prevention advocate who has participated in a substantial number of international parental child abduction reunifications and who has acted endlessly to prevent targeted children from becoming victims of criminal child abduction stated, “For many parents who face having a child abducted abroad, the maze of complex legal and personal issues they must immediately attempt to navigate can be devastating. The challenges are magnified many fold due to the fact that most every parent does not expect for this crime against them and their child to happen. They are typically victims of a well-conspired fraudulent plan. By creating ‘The World Turned Upside Down’, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk are providing the world with yet another very special gift: a remarkable resource guide that will help a tremendous number of people, including parents and children facing this type of crime. Combining this publication with the extensive previous research reports and educational documentary film Peter and Carolyn have previously created or published, along with their tireless effort to create and implement new laws that will serve children everywhere, their efforts have and will continue to bring positive awareness of the dangerous and growing issues at hand.”

Amanda B, a mother presently at risk of having her young children abducted to the Middle East added, “The selfless efforts of Peter and Carolyn have made a direct impact on the safety and welfare of my children. I am grateful for their direct assistance on my and my children’s behalf: today my children are safe at home, and I am extremely grateful. ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ is such a vital resource that parents like myself, who are at risk of having their children internationally abducted, can turn to. It is an incredibly useful tool written by two caring child advocates who give of themselves freely in order to help others.”

Jill Jones Soderman, PHD the Executive Director of ‘The Foundation For The Child Victims Of The Family Courts’ (501c3), and the Founder of ‘The Family Resolution Center’, located in Chester, New York, which focuses on issues surrounding children, including international child abduction and parental alienation added, “Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk have committed a significant portion of their lives and personal resources to the intervention and prevention of child abduction. As part of such efforts, Peter and Carolyn have written one of the most comprehensive, understandable written works bound by groundbreaking and landmark research on a plethora of issues surrounding the criminal act of international child abduction. In ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk’s commitment toward defenseless children and their targeted parents is undeniable, extraordinarily impactful, and speaks volumes from the loving hearts of Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk. ‘The Foundation For The Children Victims Of The Family Courts’ looks forward to contributing to the ongoing resource guide ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ as this incredible evolving open-tablet E-book will make a positive difference against the war on international parental child abduction and child abuse.”

‘The World Turned Upside Down’ is available for free download on best-selling author Peter Thomas Senese’s official website, the official website of Senese’s ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, and on numerous websites including ‘International Parental Child Abduction Information’. Also available on these sites is the educational documentary film ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ created and narrated by Peter Thomas Senese, and co-produced by Carolyn Ann Vlk, along with various helpful information.

Peter Thomas Senese’s CHASING THE CYCLONE

Peter Thomas Senese added, “Carolyn and I are pleased to publish the open-tablet E-book ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ as we continue our efforts to prevent the acts of international child abduction. We recognize that ours are only part of the great effort put forth by a global community interested in protecting children everywhere. We thank all those who have demonstrated leadership in this area, feel deeply for those children who have been victimized by the malicious acts of abduction along with their parents who have or who are chasing the cyclones of child abduction, and look forward to participating in efforts that will create new laws and policies focused on protecting targeted children and their parents from abduction.”

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN by PETER THOMAS SENESE

I am very pleased to announce today the free E-book publication of THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: International Parental Child Abduction by Peter Thomas Senese with special contributions by Carolyn Ann Vlk.

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN by Peter Thomas Senese with Carolyn Ann Vlk is an extensive resource guide presently 315 pages in length containing significant information and landmark reports and research studies that will be useful for all individuals, including targeted parents, law enforcement officers, courts, and lawmakers interested in understanding and preventing international parental child abduction or human trafficking.

What is dynamic about THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN outside of the fact that the content and material contained within the book is that THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN takes shape in the form of a virtual E-book that is intended to be updated with new content, information, and material as relevant material and information becomes available. In essence, THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is the foundation for a very unique cyber-library with the intent of providing critically important information for all individuals in need of information regarding child abduction.

In keeping with my goal of being able to offer to the world-at-large relevant, timely, and important information that may protect innocent children targeted for international abduction, it was my desire to make this extensive publication free-of-charge to all who desire to read it. THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is available online as a free download in a PDF file format. Both Carolyn Ann Vlk’s and my child abduction prevention advocacy is done on a volunteer basis.

Making THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN free of charge is similar to the free extensive documentary film series titled ‘CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into the Storms of International Parental Child Abduction’ I have created that continues to educate a substantial number of individuals from around the world on the growing epidemic of criminal child abduction.

On behalf of Carolyn Ann Vlk and myself, I hope that the information contained in THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN will be of help to you.

Click Here To Read THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY PETER SENESE

Sincerely,

Peter Thomas Senese