The maternal grandparents and uncles of the children announced in a statement that on July 24, 2024, the two boys, whose mother is Portuguese and father is Peruvian, were taken to Lima, Peru’s capital, by their father without the mother’s knowledge.
The family was residing in Madrid, Spain, at the time, and the children were then aged two and four.
Three days later, the Portuguese mother traveled to Lima, where she has remained since. In June of this year, she provisionally secured exclusive custody of the children following an injunction filed in a Peruvian court.
“However, nothing has been decided regarding the main legal action, and the children’s father continues to launch legal and media attacks, with a high probability that he could abduct them again,” noted the maternal grandparents and uncles.
In the open letter to be delivered on September 8, the signatories argue that this is a criminal case involving “international child abduction” and complain that the proceedings have not been prioritized by Peruvian and Spanish courts.
“Acknowledging the importance of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, the signatories of this letter appeal to the President of the Republic and the Government for more effective intervention with the official entities of Peru and Spain, in defending the human rights of two children and their mother, Portuguese citizens,” the document states, available on a website for subscription until today.
They request that the “safety and full freedom” of the boys be ensured, with a “guarantee of their return to Europe as soon as possible.”
In the open letter, the signatories also urge President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the government led by Luís Montenegro to use their “influence power” to address “the fragility of European legislation” that allows a parent to travel “with minor children outside of Europe without the necessary knowledge and express consent of the other parent.”
The open letter, supported by over 30 public figures not identified by the family, will be delivered to the Presidency of the Republic and to the offices of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.
