Lawyer Ia Sveger has worked with child abduction for over 20 years.

She has seen many children taken away - but allowed to return.

- Many times I have clients who have been trying to get their child back for several years.

It is only in a few isolated cases, when you have acted quickly, that it is possible to get the child back.

She is critical of the fact that the authorities are often slow or simply held back by the legislation to prevent and stop a child abduction rooted in a custody dispute.

Then it is up to the parents to take matters into their own hands.

- I usually recommend my clients to hire a lawyer in the country where the child has been abducted as soon as possible.

But it is often a costly commitment that can last for many years.

SVT's review shows that at least 916 children have been abducted in the past 5 years.

In less than a third of the cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been able to trace that the child will return.

They mainly apply to children who have been taken out of the country on grounds of honor for a limited period;

to be married off, to be genitally mutilated or for a so-called "education journey".

The process is too slow

Sveger thinks there must be a greater opportunity to stop an abduction through the border police, the police and in consultation with social services.  

- You should be able to stop a parent and carry out a travel ban even if there are only suspicions of a possible abduction, says Ia Sveger.   

She believes that the process of reinstatement via the bureaucracy is going far too slowly: there is a lack of cooperation between the social service and the Foreign Ministry. 

She also believes that the cooperation between our police and Interpol should work better.

Sweden should strengthen its international work on child abduction.

The Foreign Ministry should have better collaborations and agreements with other countries, especially where the Hague Convention does not apply.

Today, 101 countries are affiliated to the Hague Convention.

Expensive costs for the parents

Today, you can get legal aid for a refund corresponding to an annual income of SEK 260,000.

Brother-in-law has, however, been involved in the lawyer's fees of up to half a million.

- Not everyone can afford it.

Then returning the child becomes a cost issue, says Ia Sveger.