Bortförseln

Bortförseln refers to the act of taking a person away by force, threat, deception, or without their consent, resulting in the unlawful deprivation of liberty. The term is used in everyday language as well as in legal contexts to describe acts commonly known in English as abduction or kidnapping. Bortförseln can involve adults or children and may occur in a variety of settings, including interpersonal crimes, domestic disputes, wartime actions, or organized crime.

In criminal law, bortförseln is characterized by elements such as taking a person from their location, controlling their movement, and detaining them against their will. The act typically requires evidence of intentional deprivation of liberty and coercive means, though the precise legal definitions vary by jurisdiction. Some cases distinguish between abduction (taking someone away) and false imprisonment (unlawful detention without removal). When children are involved, bortförseln is often treated as a special category of custodial interference or parental abduction.

Cross-border bortförseln, such as international child abduction, engages international instruments and cooperative procedures. The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980) provides mechanisms for rapid return of abducted children to their habitual residence and for cooperation among courts and authorities. International criminal law also addresses hostage-taking and trafficking aspects that may fall under bortförseln.

See also: kidnapping, abduction, deprivation of liberty, parental kidnapping, false imprisonment.