TORONTO - An Ontario man, who found his missing children in Poland after a two-and-a-half year search, is heading back to Europe this week for a court hearing that will decide their fate.
Stephen Watkins told The Canadian Press on Sunday that he will be in a Warsaw court Wednesday, seeking the return to Canada of his two boys _ Alexander, 10, and Christopher, 8.
The 40-year-old Newmarket, Ont., man was granted custody of the children after he split up with his wife, Edyta Watkins.
She and the boys vanished in March 2009, only to emerge later in Poland, the woman's native country.
But on Dec. 15, a Polish court ruled against sending the boys back to Canada. Watkins is appealing that decision.
The court's ruling was based on its conclusion that it would be detrimental for the children to return to Canada as they had integrated fully into Polish society.
But Watkins has maintained his sons still speak more English than Polish and that he has secured the support of Canadian agencies that would help his sons re-settle into their home in Newmarket.
He argues that Poland has recognized Canadian court orders that show he has sole custody of the children and has acknowledged that international law had been broken.
Poland doesn't have an extradition treaty with Canada, but it's party to the Hague Convention, which is meant to expedite the process of returning abducted children.
"I am working hard not only to get my own abducted sons home but also trying to set (a) precedence in the country of Poland to see many internationally abducted children returned to their home countries," Watkins wrote in an email Sunday.
He has urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to raise the issue with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, when the two leaders meet in Ottawa this week.
"The fact remains, an international crime has been committed against my sons, other Canadian children and children from many countries worldwide."
To bolster his case this week, Watkins has asked the National Recognized Missing Children Organization of Poland to speak at the hearing.
He is also seeking the presence of Reunite International, the British charity specializing in the movement of children across international borders, at Wednesday's hearing.
Stephen Watkins told The Canadian Press on Sunday that he will be in a Warsaw court Wednesday, seeking the return to Canada of his two boys _ Alexander, 10, and Christopher, 8.
The 40-year-old Newmarket, Ont., man was granted custody of the children after he split up with his wife, Edyta Watkins.
She and the boys vanished in March 2009, only to emerge later in Poland, the woman's native country.
But on Dec. 15, a Polish court ruled against sending the boys back to Canada. Watkins is appealing that decision.
The court's ruling was based on its conclusion that it would be detrimental for the children to return to Canada as they had integrated fully into Polish society.
But Watkins has maintained his sons still speak more English than Polish and that he has secured the support of Canadian agencies that would help his sons re-settle into their home in Newmarket.
He argues that Poland has recognized Canadian court orders that show he has sole custody of the children and has acknowledged that international law had been broken.
Poland doesn't have an extradition treaty with Canada, but it's party to the Hague Convention, which is meant to expedite the process of returning abducted children.
"I am working hard not only to get my own abducted sons home but also trying to set (a) precedence in the country of Poland to see many internationally abducted children returned to their home countries," Watkins wrote in an email Sunday.
He has urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to raise the issue with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, when the two leaders meet in Ottawa this week.
"The fact remains, an international crime has been committed against my sons, other Canadian children and children from many countries worldwide."
To bolster his case this week, Watkins has asked the National Recognized Missing Children Organization of Poland to speak at the hearing.
He is also seeking the presence of Reunite International, the British charity specializing in the movement of children across international borders, at Wednesday's hearing.
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