This little Kiwi boy, the Great Grandson of a New Zealand Gallipoli soldier, has been trapped in Turkey ever since.
Dylan's dad, Bruce Rennick Laybourn, applied for Dylan's return in June, 2007, through the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, a process that is designed to return a child to its homeland within 6 weeks due to the emotional stress on the child and trauma for the "stay at home" parent.
Despite the fact that both Turkey and New Zealand are signatories to the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, the case has now been in the Turkish courts for more than 20 months.
Full details on this tragic separation of a little boy and his dad, are available at Dylan's website ..
www.bringdylanhome.co.nz
The story, as told by the 60 Minutes documentary team, can be seen at ...
http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/60Minutes/tabid/371/articleID/81348/cat/46/Default.aspx#video
In an uncanny coincidence, Dylan was removed from New Zealand on May 4, 2007 - exactly the same time that the little British girl Madeleine McCann, went missing in Portugal.
Of his time with Dylan in Istanbul in February, Bruce writes:
"Dylan and I are bonding closer and closer every day. We don't just look alike but it is very clear that this apple did not fall far from the tree.
"We have an extraordinarily love and connection - not just the overt but the subtle look, the grin, the little touch, squeeze of the hand or longing gaze.
"Dylan calls for 'baba' from his cot, greets me every morning with a smile that melts my heart. We hug, we wrestle, we have water fights in the shower, and I get a morning gym workshop hoisting him skyward until my arms and shoulders ache. We read books quietly, we play with toys noisily and we cuddle with a sincerity that brings tears to my eyes.
"It is inconceivable that I will be flying home a third time since Dylan was abducted in May, 2007, leaving my little Kiwi son behind. As well, Dylan continues to miss out on having daily contact with his own daddy. My wee man is bound to be confused about the absence of his 'baba' in his life.
"I am incredibly disappointed that the new government in New Zealand has so far failed to show any interest in Dylan's case - or to publicly state that it stands behind the initiative of previous Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in directly appealing to the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
Sadly, little appears to have changed since United States International Family Law Attorney, Jeremy D. Morley wrote these words in 2005:
"Hague applications for the return of abducted children from Turkey continue to experience the same systemic problems that were cited in the last report. Cases move very slowly through the courts and can take years to resolve. It appears that few judges or lawyers are familiar with the Convention or understand it well enough to implement it effectively. For example, Hague cases are often treated as custody cases and home studies are frequently ordered."
This little Kiwi boy, the Great Grandson of a New Zealand Gallipoli soldier, has been trapped in Turkey ever since.
Dylan's dad, Bruce Rennick Laybourn, applied for Dylan's return in June, 2007, through the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, a process that is designed to return a child to its homeland within 6 weeks due to the emotional stress on the child and trauma for the "stay at home" parent.
Despite the fact that both Turkey and New Zealand are signatories to the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, the case has now been in the Turkish courts for more than 20 months.
Full details on this tragic separation of a little boy and his dad, are available at Dylan's website ..
www.bringdylanhome.co.nz
The story, as told by the 60 Minutes documentary team, can be seen at ...
http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/60Minutes/tabid/371/articleID/81348/cat/46/Default.aspx#video
In an uncanny coincidence, Dylan was removed from New Zealand on May 4, 2007 - exactly the same time that the little British girl Madeleine McCann, went missing in Portugal.
Of his time with Dylan in Istanbul in February, Bruce writes:
"Dylan and I are bonding closer and closer every day. We don't just look alike but it is very clear that this apple did not fall far from the tree.
"We have an extraordinarily love and connection - not just the overt but the subtle look, the grin, the little touch, squeeze of the hand or longing gaze.
"Dylan calls for 'baba' from his cot, greets me every morning with a smile that melts my heart. We hug, we wrestle, we have water fights in the shower, and I get a morning gym workshop hoisting him skyward until my arms and shoulders ache. We read books quietly, we play with toys noisily and we cuddle with a sincerity that brings tears to my eyes.
"It is inconceivable that I will be flying home a third time since Dylan was abducted in May, 2007, leaving my little Kiwi son behind. As well, Dylan continues to miss out on having daily contact with his own daddy. My wee man is bound to be confused about the absence of his 'baba' in his life.
"I am incredibly disappointed that the new government in New Zealand has so far failed to show any interest in Dylan's case - or to publicly state that it stands behind the initiative of previous Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in directly appealing to the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
Sadly, little appears to have changed since United States International Family Law Attorney, Jeremy D. Morley wrote these words in 2005:
"Hague applications for the return of abducted children from Turkey continue to experience the same systemic problems that were cited in the last report. Cases move very slowly through the courts and can take years to resolve. It appears that few judges or lawyers are familiar with the Convention or understand it well enough to implement it effectively. For example, Hague cases are often treated as custody cases and home studies are frequently ordered."
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2:23 pm PST, Nov 6,
Allan Johnston, New Zealand
What a shame response from both government. Bruce has done more than most to help put New Zealand on the world map in the tourism industry and I can't see for the life of me when he need a little help. G.O.Y.A. Get off your asses Bee hive ! |
