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More kids abducted from Sweden: report

Over 100 children have been abducted and taken overseas by one of their parents in each of the past two years, reflecting a significant rise on on 2006, according to a report by Sveriges Radio's Ekot news programme.

The Swedish foreign ministry is currently working with 134 ongoing cases regarding the abduction of children by one of their parents in recent years.

So far this year 100 children have been taken out of the country, continuing a rising trend from 2010 which saw 108 children whisked away.

The figures indicate a significant rise on 2006 when 72 children were abducted.

The foreign ministry explained the increasing trend as due to changing migration habits, increased travel and more marriages which span international marriages.

According to the foreign ministry the best chance of locating an abducted child is if he/she has been taken to one of the 80 signatories to the Hague Abduction Convention which came into force in 1980.

The primary intention of the Hague Convention is to preserve the status quo child custody arrangement which existed immediately before an alleged wrongful removal.

The foreign ministry advises that if a child has been taken to a country which is not a signatory to the convention, repatriation is further complicated.

Sweden ratified the convention in 1989.

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