ID :
112431
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 22:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/112431
The shortlink copeid
Japan urged to join Hague Convention on int`l parental abduction+
TOKYO, March 18 Kyodo -
An official of an international organization dealing with the Hague Convention
which covers international parental abduction urged Japan Thursday to join the
convention, saying there are no technical reasons preventing Japan from doing
so.
William Duncan, deputy secretary general of the Hague Conference on Private
International Law, repeatedly emphasized at a press conference in Tokyo when
parents abduct children across borders after international marriages fall
apart, it leaves ''long-term, harmful effects'' on children.
He said, ''There is no technical reason why Japan should not'' join the
convention that provides a procedure for the prompt return of such children to
their habitual residence and protects parental access rights.
Duncan, who attended a two-day symposium from Wednesday at which experts from
eight nations and Japanese government officials discussed the issue, also said
Japan does not have to change its internal law to join the convention, a
concern mentioned by some Japanese.
''There seems to be an idea in certain quarters in Japan that for Japan to come
into the convention would require changes in domestic law relating to
custody...and that's not true,'' he said, adding the convention is also
flexible about implementation.
The ambassadors of the eight nations -- Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New
Zealand, Spain, Britain and the United States -- also released a joint
statement Thursday, welcoming Japan's recent moves of establishing a special
division within the Foreign Ministry on the issue but also urging it to join
the convention and resolve current issues over international parental abduction
cases.
''We hope that Japan recognizes the benefits of the Hague Convention, including
Japanese nationals, and will join over 80 nations...in becoming party to the
convention,'' the statement said.
It also reiterated calls for Japan to ''identify and implement interim measures
to enable parents who are separated from their children to maintain contact
with them and ensure visitation rights, and to establish a framework for
resolution of current child abduction cases.''
Of the Group of Eight major powers, Japan and Russia have yet to ratify the
convention.
==Kyodo
An official of an international organization dealing with the Hague Convention
which covers international parental abduction urged Japan Thursday to join the
convention, saying there are no technical reasons preventing Japan from doing
so.
William Duncan, deputy secretary general of the Hague Conference on Private
International Law, repeatedly emphasized at a press conference in Tokyo when
parents abduct children across borders after international marriages fall
apart, it leaves ''long-term, harmful effects'' on children.
He said, ''There is no technical reason why Japan should not'' join the
convention that provides a procedure for the prompt return of such children to
their habitual residence and protects parental access rights.
Duncan, who attended a two-day symposium from Wednesday at which experts from
eight nations and Japanese government officials discussed the issue, also said
Japan does not have to change its internal law to join the convention, a
concern mentioned by some Japanese.
''There seems to be an idea in certain quarters in Japan that for Japan to come
into the convention would require changes in domestic law relating to
custody...and that's not true,'' he said, adding the convention is also
flexible about implementation.
The ambassadors of the eight nations -- Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New
Zealand, Spain, Britain and the United States -- also released a joint
statement Thursday, welcoming Japan's recent moves of establishing a special
division within the Foreign Ministry on the issue but also urging it to join
the convention and resolve current issues over international parental abduction
cases.
''We hope that Japan recognizes the benefits of the Hague Convention, including
Japanese nationals, and will join over 80 nations...in becoming party to the
convention,'' the statement said.
It also reiterated calls for Japan to ''identify and implement interim measures
to enable parents who are separated from their children to maintain contact
with them and ensure visitation rights, and to establish a framework for
resolution of current child abduction cases.''
Of the Group of Eight major powers, Japan and Russia have yet to ratify the
convention.
==Kyodo
