MAUREEN DABBAGH
Dabbagh & Associates
P.O. Box 134
Capron, VA 23829
434-658-3050
MaureenDabbagh@aol.com
SUMMARY
 Principle, Dabbagh & Associates
Consulting services for cases involving issues of international child abduction. Have assisted in over 300 cases involving international child abduction.

  • Consulting: Work with attorneys, court-appointed psychologists, and guardian ad-litems to disseminate information on the risks and ramifications of international abduction and safeguards for its prevention

  • Expert Testimony: Conduct risk assessment of cases involving international abduction issues; Serve as an expert witness on cases involving international child abduction.

  • Mediation Support: Assist with approaches to bi-cultural conflict resolution.

  • Recovery: Assist in recovery of children abducted abroad and in return of children abducted to the United States.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Testified before the Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on Goverment Reform, Oct. 2-3, 2002.

  • Founder & President, P.A.R.E.N.T. International, a non-profit parental abduction support network and coalition, with NGO members from USA, Japan, Canada, UK, Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland. Sponsor of the International Abduction Conference. Volunteer position.

  • Recognized to give testimony on issues involving international child abduction by courts in the following states: California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas, 1996 to Present.

  • Passed Daubert challenge of the admissibility of scientific expert testimony, Houston, Texas (Harris County), 2002 and Upper Sandusky, Ohio (Wyandot County), 2003.

  • Assisted in recovery of children abducted to various countries abroad and in return of children abducted to the United States, 1994 to Present.

  • Development partner for the United Nations Poster Campaign, and international effort which recognizes children's rights in international abduction cases. Approved by the United Nations. 1998.

  • More than ten years experience with family law issues in the Middle East, including successful litigation in the Sharia Court in Damascus, Syria, 1996.

  • Development of International Parent network.

  • Developed the first international coalition of NGO's.

  • Respondent, "Profile of an Abductor" Research Project conducted by The American Bar Association/Center on Children and The Law, Funded by U.S. Department of Justice, 1997.

  • Assisted in the development and lobbying of SR 293, which passed in a unanimous vote by US Senate in Oct. 1998.

  • Lend technical support to Prime Time, 24 hours, Dateline and other investigative shows on parental abduction topics.

  • More than 100 media credits, including, CNN, Fox, Readers Digest, MSNBC as well as international media forums, i.e. Brazil, Germany and France, 1993-Present.

  • Working experience and knowledge of both Sunni & Shi'ite family law.

    • ORGANIZATIONS
  • Board Member, Missing Children's Investigation Center (MCIC), California, 2000-2001.

  • Faculty Member, 13th annual CRC [Children's Rights Council] International Conference, Washington, D.C., 2001.

  • Board Member, SOS France, a French Justice Department funded NGO working internationally to address issues of international child abduction through participation in international forums and individual case intervention. 2001.

  • Appointed Committee member for Virginia 2007 project.

  • Head of sub-committee for Virginia 2007 project.

  • Director of Indian Affairs, DAR, Hicksford.

    • PAPERS
  • Author, Article: "INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION: Competent Assistance in Prevention," World Expose, September 2002.

  • Author, Report: "BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THIS APRIL 28, 2000: Implementation of The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by Mexico."

  • Author, Report to U.S. Embassy, CG, Costa Rica: "COSTA RICA: Profile Of An Underground." 2000. [Requested].

  • Author, "Lebensborn: From the Inception to the New Millennium," 2000. Used in European court of Human Rights.

  • Author, "Obstacles in Returning Internationally Abducted Children." Presented to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Geneva. 1999.

  • Author, "Recovery of Internationally Abducted Children", 1997 McFarland & Company Inc.

  • Contributing Editor, "International Resource Directory", 1998 & 1999.

  • Editor, PARENT International Newsletter, 1994-1999.

    • CONFERENCES
  • Presenter for CRC [Children's Rights Council] 13th annual conference. Washington, D.C. 2001.

  • Invited attendee at the European Conference on International Child Abduction. London. 1999.

  • Invited to International conference, "Hearing Children's Voices." Hosted by Cheri Blair, key note speaker, Hillary Clinton. London. 1999.

  • Speaker, Vanished Children's Alliance, National Conference. Washington, D.C. 1999. "Impact of the Brussels ll in cross border abductions in Europe".

  • Key note speaker for P.A.R.E.N.T. International Conference. Washington. D.C. 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.

    • CERTIFICATIONS & AWARDS
  • Notary Public, State of VA.

  • Member of the DAR.

  • Certified EMT.

  • American Red Cross Training Instructor; Recipiant of Green Angle Award Project HOPE; U.S. Dept. of Justice. Certificate Received.