Office of Children’s Issues

The Office of Children’s Issues (OCI) is a division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. OCI’s mission is to promote the welfare of children around the world by providing assistance and information to families and policymakers on international parental child abduction, international adoption, and international child protection. In addition, OCI works to prevent the trafficking of children and provide assistance to child victims of trafficking. OCI also administers the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which is a treaty that provides a process for the prompt return of abducted children to their home countries.