Child and Family Law Journal
Abstract
As the world grows more interconnected through globalization, the opportunity for international parental kidnapping has increased. International parental kidnapping occurs when a parent or guardian wrongfully removes and retains a child from their habitual residency, even with the existence of a custody agreement. This article examines the role of the International Criminal Police Organization (“Interpol”) and how their use of Red and Yellow Notices can meddle in international custody disputes. Interpol consists of 196 member states, each of which is connected through Interpol’s database. Interpol links local law enforcement agencies in each of the member states. A Red Notice is an international alert to law enforcement that an individual is wanted for prosecution. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. A Yellow Notice alerts law enforcement as to a missing person.
This article focuses on three cases that show how parents can use Interpol Red Notices to locate abducted children abroad or the abducting parent. In January 2022, Interpol released a policy change that specifically stated that Red Notices could not be issued against parents in private family matters. However, three cases are analyzed to see how Interpol was involved in the international parental kidnapping and international custody dispute, despite the policy change. Finally, it should be noted that before publication of this article, Interpol underwent another policy change, enacted in February 2025, that sought to further eliminate custody disputes from their jurisdiction.
Recommended Citation
Gallucci, Chandler
(2026)
"Involving Interpol: Interpol’s Meddling in International Parental Kidnapping and International Custody Dispute Cases Through Red and Yellow Notices,"
Child and Family Law Journal: Vol. 13:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://lawpublications.barry.edu/cflj/vol13/iss1/3
