ID :
181650
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 07:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/181650
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Japan to Make Hague Treaty Decision on May 20
Tokyo, May 11 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will decide on May 20 whether to sign the Hague treaty on cross-border parental abductions of children after breakups in international marriage, informed sources told Jiji Press on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan will announce the decision at the Group of Eight summit to be held in France from May 26, said sources from the government and ruling bloc.
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which became effective in 1983, deals with situations in which mothers or fathers unilaterally takes their children from countries the families originally lived.
The treaty requires such children to be returned to the original nations of residence and for the parents to settle child custody disputes under the laws of those countries.
Japan has faced increasing pressure to join the treaty from other nations, including the United States.
In late April, Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto told U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that even after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami Japan is making steady preparations for its planned participation.
Some members of the Democratic Party of Japan oppose Japan signing the treaty, but the ruling party is expected to approve the move at a meeting on Thursday.
The government will prepare legislation to enable Japan to join the treaty, aiming to submit this in the next special Diet session later this year.
The legislation will say Japan will reserve the right to refuse to return children who may fall victim to child abuse if they are send back, the sources said.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan will announce the decision at the Group of Eight summit to be held in France from May 26, said sources from the government and ruling bloc.
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which became effective in 1983, deals with situations in which mothers or fathers unilaterally takes their children from countries the families originally lived.
The treaty requires such children to be returned to the original nations of residence and for the parents to settle child custody disputes under the laws of those countries.
Japan has faced increasing pressure to join the treaty from other nations, including the United States.
In late April, Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto told U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that even after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami Japan is making steady preparations for its planned participation.
Some members of the Democratic Party of Japan oppose Japan signing the treaty, but the ruling party is expected to approve the move at a meeting on Thursday.
The government will prepare legislation to enable Japan to join the treaty, aiming to submit this in the next special Diet session later this year.
The legislation will say Japan will reserve the right to refuse to return children who may fall victim to child abuse if they are send back, the sources said.
