Save My Children from Abuse and loss of mom
Who is affected?
My two little daughters, Sadie (7) and Ivy (4), were exposed to domestic abuse by their father – including psychological, verbal, and physical violence. Today, they are facing a forced return to the United States, where they would once again be subjected to the same environment. Experts who examined them recorded serious consequences.
What do the experts say?
Psychologist:
“The child exhibits clear symptoms of an anxiety disorder and signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), linked to the experience of family violence and the fear of returning to an environment where they were exposed to verbal and physical abuse.”
Social Services (ÚPSVaR):
“The authority believes that enforcing the court decision is not in the best interest of the minor children, as it may disproportionately affect their mental well-being.”
Forensic expert opinion:
“Sadie shows signs of being a victim of abuse. Separation from her mother would have serious consequences.”
“The risk of severe psychological harm upon return to the U.S. is high.”
👉 Full expert opinions are available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h7z-jzaTgOGItzjsZAwHTKEFyYKuMvQ_?usp=drive_link
What is this about?
A Slovak court ruled that the children must return to the U.S., disregarding expert recommendations that strongly warn against any return or separation from their mother.
From the child psychologist’s report:
“From a psychological standpoint, the child’s return to the care of the father or to a country where they would be exposed to the same or similar risks is strongly discouraged.
Any forced separation from the mother, return to a place where the child experienced trauma, or contact with a person who was the source of the trauma may lead to serious deterioration of the child’s mental health and long-term developmental harm.”
Sadie clearly stated that her father hurt her and that she does not want to go with him. Both children are strongly attached to their mother, who has protected them until now. A forced return could psychologically destroy them.
Why act now?
In May 2025, the children were declared “missing,” even though they are safe with their mother.
Instead of de-escalating the situation, the father has been publicly reporting the children as ‘missing’ in Slovakia and simultaneously initiating aggressive legal action in the U.S. – used as a form of psychological pressure, harassment, and intimidation.
Every day the children live in fear of being violently taken is another trauma. Their voices were not heard. The court decision does not reflect the reality or the children’s best interests.
🆘 This petition is a call to action: Let’s stop the enforcement of this decision before it’s too late. Help protect two innocent children from returning to violence and from losing their mother.
✍️ Please sign this petition and share it with your friends to bring this case to public attention.
🟡 Want to help even more? Here are a few ways:
1.Write an email or letter to the President of Slovakia, the Public Defender of Rights, the Children’s Ombudsman, the Minister of Justice, or any Member of Parliament you trust – and express your disagreement with a decision that threatens the well-being of two little girls.
Every voice matters.
2.Do you know a journalist or media outlet that covers children’s rights?
Send them this petition. Public interest can help prevent injustice.
3.If you live abroad, please share this call for help with child protection organizations or European institutions, such as:
UNICEF, Eurochild, Human Rights Watch, the European Parliament Committee on Petitions, or the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM).
📧 Contact information for relevant institutions:
President of the Slovak Republic (informacie@prezident.gov.sk)
Public Defender of Rights (podnet@vop.gov.sk)
Minister of Justice (podatelnamssr@justice.sk)
European Parliament – Committee on the Rights of the Child – Ewa Kopacz (biuro.poznan@ewakopacz.eu)
EU Ombudsman (https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/complainant-login
European Commission – CERV (lea.mala@employment.gov.sk, info-cerv@employment.gov.sk)
European Commission – FEMM (femm-secretariat@ep.europa.eu)
UNICEF Slovakia (info@unicef.sk)
Human Rights Watch - New York (Address: 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
New York, NY 10118-3299 USA)
Human Rights Watch - Brussels (belgium@hrw.org)
Human Rights Watch - Genevra (genevaoffice@hrw.org)
Human Rights Watch - Berlin (berlin@hrw.org)
Human Rights Watch - Zürich (zurich@hrw.org)
Human Rights Watch - London (london@hrw.org)
📨 Universal email template (or feel free to write your own):
Subject: Request for Help – Endangerment of Children's Rights and Mental Health
Message:
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen who is deeply troubled by the case of two young children – Sadie (7) and Ivy (4) – who are facing a forced return from Europe to an environment where they were subjected to serious domestic violence by their father.
Experts and psychologists have confirmed post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders in the children due to abuse and have strongly warned against returning them to the same environment.
Despite these expert opinions, the Slovak court has ordered their return. Their mother, who has protected them so far, is being unfairly victimized. In the U.S., the father obtained temporary custody without any hearing for the mother, while in Slovakia, the mother is facing criminal prosecution for protecting her children from returning to a dangerous situation. The father continues to use public alerts and legal action as a form of harassment and psychological pressure.
Please take action – help stop the enforcement of this decision before it is too late.
Thank you for caring about the future and well-being of these children.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, Country (optional)]
Jana Handley Contact the author of the petition