Dr Nazia Yaqub acts as international academic expert in cross-border parental child abduction

Dr Yaqub was invited to give evidence as an international academic expert at a Public Hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense of the Federal Senate of Brazil.

The televised hearing focused on the growing number of cases involving Brazilian mothers whose children have been taken or retained abroad in Islamic-law contexts. Dr Yaqub was invited to provide an external, comparative perspective on cross-border parental child abduction, drawing on her research on children’s rights and the interaction between family, criminal and international law.

The hearing was broadcast live on the Brazilian Senate’s television channel.

Dr Yaqub was the sole international academic expert on the panel, alongside Brazilian senators, senior government officials, civil society representatives and affected mothers.

Dr Yaqub says:

It was an honour to be invited by the Federal Senate of Brazil to contribute to this important public hearing. Cross-border child abduction cases raise complex legal and human right challenges, particularly where different legal systems intersect. Parliamentary dialogue and international cooperation are essential if we are to secure outcomes that genuinely protect children and support affected families.  

The invitation reflects the international policy relevance of her research and its contribution to parliamentary and public debate on child protection in cross-border cases.

Dr Yaqub is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Centre for Law and Social Justice and the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies. You can find her on Bluesky @Drnazia-yaqub and on LinkedIn here.