THE FULL STORY
About
Shine a Lite Network is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting Canadian families in difficulty abroad, with a particular focus on cases of International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA).
Founded by Layan Bishtawi, whose personal experience of recovering her children after a two-year international abduction case inspired its creation, Shine a Lite Network provides advocacy, guidance, information, and resources to equip left-behind parents with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate complex legal systems and work toward the safe return of their children. Through direct support and policy advocacy, we strive to strengthen Canada’s response to international parental child abduction and ensure that no Canadian family faces such challenges alone.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure that no Canadian family faces the trauma of international parental child abduction alone. Shine a Lite Network provides the support, resources, and advocacy needed to guide parents toward justice and reunification.
What we do
Co
Consular Service Guidance: We Help Canadians understand the framework governing the Canadian consular service delivery process and the scope of services available to them in order to facilitate access to adequate assistance during a crisis.
Community Support: build a supportive community to help connect people of similar situations together to foster emotional support, sharing of experiences and practical advice.
Resource Connection: We connect families with resources, including government agencies, legal experts and support organizations.
Advocacy: We advocate on behalf of families affected by International Parental Child Abduction and who are in urgent need for consular assistance to ensure their voices are heard.
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Parents' Stories
A Parent Navigating the Hague Process
The past year and a half has been the most devastating of my life. Being forcibly separated from my young child, who was wrongfully retained by his mother abroad after a family vacation, has caused a pain I never imagined a parent could endure. Every day without him feels like stolen time—moments I was never able to share and memories I was never able to create.
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I was reassured that my son was in a Hague Convention signatory country, offering a possible avenue for his return. But navigating the Hague process during this emotional turmoil has been extremely challenging, both emotionally and financially. Even months after obtaining a return judgment, enforcing it has been a separate struggle, and I have lost all contact with my son, with no clarity about his whereabouts.
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Throughout this ordeal, Shine a Light Network has been invaluable. Their support shines a light into an incredibly dark place, giving hope to parents in unimaginable circumstances. Together, we worked through strategy, identified possible next steps, and they advocated for my case to help me obtain the assistance I needed to move forward. Having the organization by my side—people who understand my pain and have faced similar challenges—has given me clarity, direction, and, most of all, hope.
Parents' Stories
A Father Refusing to Give Up After Two Years
My son was abducted in 2022. In the years that followed, I tried everything possible to bring him home, only to be met with endless bureaucracy and closed doors. No matter where I turned, I encountered dead ends. After more than two years of relentless effort, exhaustion, and frustration, I reached a point where I nearly lost hope.
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That changed when I connected with Shine a Lite Network. they gave me something I had not felt in a very long time—hope. She took the time to truly understand my situation and helped me navigate the complex hurdles that had previously stopped me at every step. With their guidance and the support of the organization, I have made more progress than at any point since my son was taken.
Shine a Lite Network did not just offer support; they restored my belief that my case matters and that my son has not been forgotten. I am deeply grateful for their advocacy, compassion, and persistence
A Mother at the Beginning of Her Fight
I have faced many difficult moments in my life, but nothing compares to what happened with my daughter. She went to India with my husband’s parents, who assured me she would be brought back. When I realized she was not returning to Canada, my entire world changed. I felt shattered, confused, and powerless.
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In the days that followed, I was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty, with no clear direction and no idea where to turn.
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Connecting with Shine a Light Network became a turning point. They took the time to understand my situation and helped me make sense of what I was facing and what steps might be possible. They guided me toward sources of support I hadn’t known about and stayed in touch as I tried to move forward.
