Brussels, 09/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 February, a delegation of representatives from the US, the EU and nine other countries (Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia and Columbia) urged the Japanese government to take measures to put an end to the sequestration of children by one or other of their parents in divorce cases or situations of conflict. The delegation subsequently called on the vice minister for foreign affairs to encourage Japan to sign the Hague Convention of 1980 on civil aspects of illicit child displacements.
The convention sets out procedures to ensure the return of children to their countries of normal residency and to protect the right of access for both parents. More than 80 countries have already signed this convention but Japan does not recognise parental law and is the only member of the G7 that has not signed the convention, indicates a press release.
Every year, several thousand children are often permanently cut off from one of their parents. In 80% of cases in either Japan or other countries, it is the father who loses all child access rights, reports the AFP. (G.B./transl.fl)