ID :
322464
Mon, 03/31/2014 - 13:13
Auther :

Hague Treaty on Parental Abduction to Take Effect in Japan Tues.

Tokyo, March 31 (Jiji Press)--The so-called Hague treaty that sets rules on parental custody of children after the breakups of international marriages is set to take effect in Japan on Tuesday. Under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, a child aged under 16 who is taken abroad by one of the parents without the consent of the other must be returned to the country of his or her habitual residence. Discussions will then be held to decide the custody of the child. Japan had been pressed by the United States and other nations to join the treaty as early as possible, after a number of complaints were filed over cases in which Japanese mothers brought their children back to Japan due to abuse or violence from their non-Japanese husbands. In Japan, however, there remains strong opposition to returning to the countries of residence mothers and children who have come back to Japan because of abuse or violence. Therefore, Japan set a relevant domestic law permitting the refusal of the return of children in cases where abuse or domestic violence is feared. In line with the effectuation, Japan's Foreign Ministry will expand its office in charge of the treaty on Tuesday by adding experts on abuse and domestic violence, and divorce lawyers as its staff. According to the ministry, the U.S. government has asked Japan to resolve 81 alleged child abduction cases involving Japanese parents. Britain and Canada are seeking settlements to 39 such cases each, and France 34 cases. END

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