JAPAN: U.S. adds pressure on Japan over international parental child abductions

Record ID: 187050

  • Title: JAPAN: U.S. adds pressure on Japan over international parental child abductions
  • Date: 3rd February 2010
  • Summary: ***FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 2, 2010) (REUTERS) U.S. EMBASSY BUILDING U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE KURT CAMPBELL WALKING UP TO PODIUM AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERA FILMING THE CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, KURT CAMPBELL, SAYING: "Once there has been a separation or divorce in the United States, and when a parent is given dual custody, and then one of the parents takes the children to Japan, outside of the legal framework that's been established, that's kidnapping." THE CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, KURT CAMPBELL, SAYING: "We need to see progress in this issues. This matter has raised a very real concern among senior and prominent Americans in congress on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, and I believe it's time for our two governments to create the best possible situation for these tragic cases to be resolved." JAPANESE REPORTER ASKING CAMPBELL A QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, KURT CAMPBELL, SAYING: "The situation has to be resolved in order to ensure that U.S.-Japan relations continue on such a positive course." CAMPBELL LEAVING THE CONFERENCE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CAMPBELL SHAKING HANDS WITH JAPANESE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER KOICHI TAKEMASA CAMERAMAN AND REPORTERS TAKEMASA TALKING CAMPBELL TALKING
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6FD2V7ITQONWQYMYP9DYVBSEU
  • Story Text: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell added pressure on Japan over international parental child abductions on Tuesday (February 2), calling the issue a "very real concern" on Capitol Hill.
    "We need to see progress in this issues. This matter has raised a very real concern among senior and prominent Americans in congress on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, and I believe it's time for our two governments to create the best possible situation for these tragic cases to be resolved," Campbell told a news conference dedicated to the issue in Tokyo.
    Campbell's comment came after earlier pressing by ambassadors from Britain, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the United States in last October who urged Tokyo to sign the Hague Convention, which aims to protect children from cross-border abduction by a parent.
    Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations not to have signed a 1980 convention on international child abduction.
    Diplomats said there were well over 100 cases in which foreign nationals' former Japanese spouses are denying them contact with their children.
    Campbell, who said he had meetings in the United States and Tokyo with American parents who have little or no access to their children abducted by their divorced spouse - who are in many cases, Japanese - told reporters their situations were very grave and worrisome.
    "Once there has been a separation or divorce in the United States, and when a parent is given dual custody, and then one of the parents takes the children to Japan, outside of the legal framework that's been established, that's kidnapping," said Campbell.
    The issue has long been a source of irritation for Japan in ties with the United States and other governments.
    In last September, a U.S. citizen Christopher Savoie was arrested on suspicion of trying to abduct his 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, who were on their way to school with his Japanese ex-wife. Domestic media reported his ex-wife had moved the children to Japan illegally after a U.S. court awarded him custody. Savioe was released soon, but his case ignited broader criticism from western governments whose own citizens suffer with similar cases.
    Campbell said the issue matters to maintain strong tie between the United States and Japan.
    "The situation has to be resolved in order to ensure that U.S-Japan relations continue on such a positive course," said Campbell.
    Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has been reported last year as saying he wants to join the 80 countries that have endorsed the Hague Convention.
    But the issue is complicated by the fact that Japanese courts generally avoid involvement in family issues and do not enforce custody agreements even in divorce arrangements between Japanese nationals.
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