Article 16
Having confirmed that a victim of traffic in minors is present within their jurisdiction, the competent
authorities of a State Party shall take such immediate measures as may be necessary for the minor's
protection, including those of a preventive nature to ensure that the minor is not improperly removed to
another State.
The Central Authorities shall inform the competent authorities of the State of the minor's previous habitual
residence of all such measures. The intervening authorities shall take such steps as may be necessary to
keep the persons or authorities seeking the minor's location and return duly informed of the measures
adopted.
Article 17
In keeping with the purposes of this Convention, the Central Authorities of the States Parties shall exchange
information and cooperate with their competent judicial and administrative authorities on all matters
concerning control of the entry of minors into and departure from their territories.
Article 18
Adoptions and other similar legal proceedings performed in a State Party shall be subject to annulment if
they had their origin or purpose in international traffic in minors.
In such annulment, the minor's best interests shall be taken into account at all times.
The annulment shall be subject to the law and the competent authorities of the State where the adoption or
legal proceedings concerned took place.
Article 19
Care or custody of a minor may be revoked whenever it has its origin or purpose in the international traffic in
minors, under the same conditions provided for in the preceding article.
Article 20
A request for locating and returning a minor may be lodged without prejudice to the annulment and
revocation actions provided for in Articles 18 and 19.
Article 21
In any proceeding provided for under this chapter, the competent authority may order the person or
organization responsible for international traffic in minors to pay the costs and expenses of locating and
returning the minor if such person or organization is a party to the proceeding.
A person or authority lodging a request for the return or, where applicable, the competent authority may
bring a civil action to recover costs, including legal fees and the expenses of locating and returning the
minor, unless said costs were already assessed in a criminal proceeding or a proceeding under this chapter.
The competent authority or any injured person or authority may bring a civil action for damages against the
persons or organizations responsible for the international traffic in minors involving the minor.