The Human Reality of International Parental Child Abduction | CPDonline.ca

The Human Reality of International Parental Child Abduction

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Credits
Professionalism (Ethics, etc.): 0.75
45 minutes
Published
2026
Presenter(s)
Layan Bishtawi
Marta Siemiarczuk
Source
County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA)
Provider
CPDOnline.ca
Language
English
Length
45 minutes
Price
$209.00 plus tax
35th Annual CCLA Institute of Family Law Conference
Includes Handouts

This presentation features Marta Siemiarczuk, Partner at Richardson Hall LLP, and Layan Bishtawi, Founder and Chair of Shine a Lite Network, in a practical and compelling discussion of international parental child abduction. Marta Siemiarczuk addresses the family law and cross-border legal issues that arise when children have ties to other jurisdictions, including prevention, enforcement challenges, and the need for orders that are more likely to be effective internationally. Layan Bishtawi adds the on-the-ground perspective through the work of Shine a Lite Network, a not-for-profit organization that supports and advocates for parents affected by international parental child abduction, helping families navigate resources, case-specific challenges, and broader systemic barriers. Together, they offer a clear and engaging look at both the legal framework and the human reality of these cases, with practical insight for family lawyers dealing with international risk, urgent return issues, and the limits of existing safeguards.

Presenters

Layan Bishtawi

Layan Bishtawi is a Senior Paralegal specializing in cross-border business immigration and is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws at the University of London. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Research Administration, and began her professional career in the pharmaceutical industry before transitioning into the legal field. She is the founder of Shine a Lite Network, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for left-behind parents of internationally abducted children. She established the organization following her own experience navigating international abduction of her three children to Saudi Arabia in 2019, during which she self-represented and advocated for the return of her children, successfully enforcing a Canadian custody judgement in their local courts. She now uses her experience and advocacy to support others, raise awareness of international parental child abduction, and advocate for meaningful policy reform in this area

 
 

Marta Siemiarczuk

Marta is both a practicing family law lawyer and a certified Arbitrator in family law cases. Marta’s family law practice is focused on all facets of family law, including parenting issues, child and spousal support, complex property and income issues and interjurisdictional and international family law issues, including international child abductions. Marta graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Honours B.A. in Philosophy and completed Law school at the University of Ottawa in 2002. Marta’s career has included being a regular columnist for the Law Times, she is a regular guest lecturer and instructor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, as well as being member of the conference’s planning committee.