- Target:
- International
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- BringSeanHome.org
Moved to other site
More information as well as opportunities to help can be found at http://bringseanhome.org.
On June 16th, 2004, Bruna Goldman traveled with her son Sean from their home in New Jersey to her native Brazil. The next day, she informed her husband David Goldman that their marriage was over, and David should sign all custody of Sean to her or never see his son again. This unilateral action was a violation of the Hague Treaty on International Child Abduction, which was signed by many countries including both the United States and Brazil, and in fact is considered to be kidnapping.
Under the terms of the treaty, Sean should have been returned to the United States for a custody hearing with the court having jurisdiction for his residence. However, Bruna Goldman was granted custody by a local court in Brazil, in the first of several judicial decisions that, according to the Brazilian federal agency responsible for enforcing Hague Treaty cases, violated the treaty. At no time during this process was it suggested that David was unfit, abusive or had shown any character fault that should prevent him from being granted custody.
During the lengthy appeals process, Bruna died. However, instead of David being given immediate custody as the closest living relative, temporary custody was instead granted to Bruna's lawyer and new husband, Joao Paulo Lins e Silva. Lins e Silva has sought to have David's name removed from Sean's birth certificate, and has argued that because Sean has been in Brazil for four years, nearly two with him, the child has adapted to his environment, and to return him to David would be too detrimental.
Where as we believe it would be unconscionable to grant custody to a non-relative when a parent of good character has continuously demonstrated a desire for custody,
and where as any and all claims for custody of the Lins e Silvas are based solely upon the results of the illegal abduction of Sean by his mother Bruna as well as their own legal delays and manipulations,
and where as we believe that it is a God given right and absolutely in a child's best interest to be raised by his natural parent unless that parent is declared to be unfit, as well as the right of the parent to raise his or her child,
We the undersigned request that the Hon. Judge Rafael de Souza Pereira Pinto, from the 16th Civil Chamber of the Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro grant David Goldmans appeal for the return of Sean Goldman under the terms of the Hague Treaty immediately.
We request that all elected and appointed Brazilian and American officials work to ensure and expediate the return of Sean Goldman to his father, David Goldman.
Further more, we request that the Brazilian and American media recognize that the ban on publishing this story instituted by the 13th Civil Court of Rio de Janeiro is not intended for the protection of the minor child, but for the protection of Lins e Silvas from the consequences of their unethical actions and is therefore unconstitutional.
We request that the media of these countries join in bringing this outrageous and tragic story the international attention that it merits.
The Return Sean Goldman to his Father petition to International was written by Stephen Wash and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.