The Japanese government accepted the Hague Convention in 2013 and it has been in effect since the 1st of April, 2014.
It is mainly to protect children's right to return to the country of their habitual residence when they're taken away by one of the parents without the other's agreement/permission.
Here is the link to the page about the Hague Convention (by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/hr_ha/page22e_000249.html
This is the blog of the group International Mothers Community in Yokohama (IMCY). The group is mainly for international mothers living and raising kids in Yokohama.
Japan has since become signatory to the Vague Convention.
ReplyDeleteThis is where it stands as of May 2014
The Japanese Govt. has been very sneaky and evasive in handling the cases thus far with all it’s loopholes and quirks in it’s laws.
So,after signing onto the Hague Convention in Japan. The rules are if you live in a foreign country……They (SAY) they will look into your case and help you? (which is Red Tape)
Now here is the biggest problem with it…….. If your living in Japan and you are alienated or have an abducted Child they won’t help you!! (Imagine that??)……….Now does that make any sense to all of you??
So, they expect you to go back to your country and then they say they will help you……Like it’s cheap to come to Japan an pay for you own accommodation and spend months going through it’s clown like Legal system. In which the mother might say she’s busy or working etc. and that will delay the case even longer.
Furthermore, If your Japanese…. You get a Lawyer, if your a foreigner you have to pay for one (another way to truly help) No, who said Japan isn’t a nationalistic xenophobic place? Good luck finding a lawyer who understands English well enough and understands foreign culture and the true meaning of LOVE.
The Vague Convention isn’t designed to return or put the Parents in contact with their children thus far. It’s just to quiet the Parent and look like the Japanese are complying and truly trying to help.
POLITICS in it’s finest form….. Give or sign onto something, but make so many loopholes that it would be hard to get a result in a timely manner. good for the Lawyers though$$$
MOFA huh!!
Wish us all luck, cause we need it when dealing with the Japanese Legal System,Politicians and Culture, Where yes means no, and NO means Yes.
Love and Peace.
Tim Johnston
father of:
Kai Endo Japan
I am no specialist of law or anything, but the convention seems to protect the right of children, not always the parents.
DeleteThe cultural difference is a big problem. Here in Japan, people (traditionally) think children should live/be raised with their mother, so it is often the case that the mother wins the full custody, while parents usually share it in some other countries. I hear the cases where fathers (Japanese) were separated from their children and the ex-wife won't let children see their father. That's also true that there are mothers and children who escaped from violent fathers etc…
The government and laws are not perfect. Maybe some may have been saved by the convention, but there are also lots more others who still can't be.