Córdoba court orders restitution of child to Colombia

A family court in Córdoba, Argentina, has ordered the international restitution of a three-year-old boy to Bogotá, Colombia. Judge Gabriel Tavip ruled that the child's relocation to Argentina in February 2026 by his mother was unilateral and lacked both parental consent and judicial authorization, violating international conventions.

The court determined that the child's habitual residence and established social, educational, and welfare environment were in Bogotá. The judge dismissed arguments from the mother's defense regarding “grave risk” or a lack of parental custody by the father, finding no evidence of qualified danger to justify preventing the return.

To ensure a “safe return,” the court established specific conditions. The child will travel accompanied by his mother, who remains his primary affective reference, and will remain under her provisional care in Colombia until local authorities resolve parental responsibility issues. The father is required to cover all airfare costs and provide housing in Bogotá for one year with amenities equivalent to those previously held. The Argentine Central Authority will coordinate with Colombian counterparts to supervise these measures.