Ibero-American Transnational Families: a review of the international judicial jurisdiction rules that accompany migrant women

Abstract

This paper provides some keys to better respond to cases of parental responsibility that arise in transnational families. In particular, we look at women of Ibero-American origin who have arrived in Spain in an economic migration leaving their children in the care of relatives or close people in their States of origin. To do this, firstly, an analysis of the differences between transnational and cross-border families is made, emphasizing the family relocation that exists in transnational families and the need, therefore, as a singular reality, to also provide specific answers. Next, the rules of international judicial jurisdiction are analyzed, in particular, the Hague Convention of 1996 and it is analyzed, through various sentences, how the Spanish courts have applied it. In this application, it is detected that there is an absolute lack of gender perspective and the need for flexibility in the responses, taking into account the special situation in which mothers, residing in Spain, find themselves with their children in their States of origin.