Japan Announces Plans to Join International Child Abduction Treaty

It has been announced that Japan plans to join the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, in 2014.

Japan Announces Plans to Join International Child Abduction Treaty

It has been announced that Japan plans to join the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, in 2014.

If you have ever found yourself in the awful situation of international child abduction, then you may be aware that the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which was signed in 1980, provides a legal mechanism for the fast and efficient return of children under the age of 16 who are abducted by a parent from a participating country in the treaty, to another participating country.  Not all countries have signed up to this treaty, and this can make things very difficult for a parent seeking the return of an abducted child to a country who is not party to the treaty.

As it currently stands, 89 countries are signed up to the treaty, and Japan will bring the total to 90. 

It is understood that Japan will sign up to the treaty on the 1st of April 2014.  Once the treaty has been signed by Japan, it will then be incorporated into Japanese Law.  Responsibility for cases will be given to the new department within the Japanese Foreign Ministry. 

If a child is abducted from a contracting state by a parent, and taken to the Japan, then under Japanese Law, the parties will firstly be encouraged to cooperate with one another.  Failing that, the case will then be dealt with in the Japanese Family Courts in either Tokyo or Osaka. 

Japanese Judges are already in training in preparation for the introduction of the new Laws.

It is understood that more children have been abducted from the United States to Japan than any other country.  The change to the Law will be a welcomed one by families and Lawyers around the world.