What's more, the foreign country may not have laws against parental child abduction.
Further information about the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.
The majority of the time, child abductions are done by family members.
"There haven't been any unresolved child abductions in the area within the past two years."
Eight out of 14 cases heard involved child abduction, which may indicate that the problem is widespread.
Many parents feel they need to keep a closer eye on their children because of concerns about crime, school violence, child abduction and abuse.
The case was the first in a series of child abductions and murders to capture national attention last year.
See our separate guidance on forced marriage and child abduction.
Kowalski called 9-1-1 to report what she believed to be a child abduction.
The law is aimed at reducing the cases of international child abduction by a parent.