The High Court has ordered the summary return of two girls to their home in Zimbabwe, following their removal to England by their mother in April 2025.
National law firm Mills & Reeve represented the father in the case of RS and TU [2025] EWHC 3352 (Fam), securing the return of his daughters, aged 10 and 6, under Article 12 of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The firm was instructed to act on behalf of the applicant father after being approached by the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit.
The children were taken from Zimbabwe (pictured) to England in what the court heard was “a clandestine abduction”. The girls had been told they were travelling to Victoria Falls but were instead taken to England via Ethiopia, with the wider maternal family allegedly complicit.
Mills & Reeve overcame legal and practical hurdles on behalf of the father, including initial challenges locating the children within England and disputes between the parents over custody rights in Zimbabwe, which necessitated expert evidence from Zimbabwe under Article 15 of the Hague Convention.
The court was tasked with considering a last minute adjournment application and defences advanced by the mother including settlement, Article 13(b) grave risk of harm, and the children’s alleged objections. The mother remained unrepresented throughout the proceedings, requiring careful consideration of procedural fairness.
“This case highlights the English courts’ commitment to enforcing the Hague Convention for the return of children, provided the legal criteria for a return order is met,” said Ellen Wilkinson, the senior associate at Mills & Reeve who led the matter. “In particular, it clarifies the courts’ approach to wrongful removal and rights of custody, providing a reminder of the importance of international cooperation and respect for judicial decisions in a child’s home country.”
Speaking after the decision, the children’s father said: “I remain very grateful for the outcome of the case and the stability it has brought to our lives… Most importantly, I am deeply thankful for the successful outcome, which has made a significant difference to my children’s wellbeing and our future.”
The Mills & Reeve team instructed barrister Joseph Landman of 1KBW to represent and support the father throughout.
