On January 29, 1998, OJJDP, the U.S. Department of State's Office of Children's Issues, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) entered into an interagency agreement on international child abduction. This agreement marks the third year of cooperation on this vital issue. The agreement enables NCMEC to provide services to assist the U.S. Central Authority (State Department) in carrying out this Nation's responsibilities under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. (In each country, the agency responsible for international child abductions under the Hague Convention is referred to as the Central Authority.) NCMEC assists in locating and recovering children illegally removed from their families and brought to the United States. Once the child is located, NCMEC facilitates the return of the child to the custodial parent or facilitates negotiation between parents and/or between parent and child, as appropriate.

International Child Abduction Agreement Signatories John Rabun (NCMEC), Ray Clore (State Department), and Shay Bilchik (OJJDP), January 29, 1998.

NCMEC, on behalf of the U.S. Central Authority, receives and reviews all potential cases and corresponds with other Central Authorities to update information on incoming cases. It also coordinates with State missing children clearinghouses on international child abduction cases to locate and recover a child who has been wrongfully removed to or kept in the United States. Other NCMEC services include legal technical assistance, parental support, poster creation and dissemination, international contacts, law enforcement liaison, age progression and reconstruction technology, and administrative support in making the arrangements necessary to secure the safe return of the child. OJJDP oversees and funds NCMEC's international child abduction activities.