May 24 Left Behind Parent Press Conference, Tokyo
May 22, 2010
Details for Press Conference at The Foreign Correspondence Club of Japan on May 24:
“THE SUFFERING OF LEFT BEHIND PARENT-CHILDREN AFTER DIVORCE”
By Fujiko Goto, Thierry Consigny, Hiroaki Morita and Masako A Suzuki
At present, there is an intense debate within the media in Japan, Japanese Federation
of Bar Associations (Nichibenren), and Japanese government about whether Japan
should change current single custody system to joint custody system after divorce and
bring its Family Law to be consistent with international legal standards with respect to
joint custodial rights of children after divorce.
Contents of the conference are as follows:
1. The Japanese civil court deprives custody of children from one parent after
divorce without specific reason;
2. Domestic parental child abductions during the marriage before divorce;
3. Quite few visitation granted by Japanese civil courts to noncustodial parents; and
4. Presentation by left behind parents sharing their real life traumas with losing
all rights to their children after divorce and their children to share a meaningful life with them under the current Japanese system.
The following experts and left behind parents will contribute at the press conference, which is hosted by The Foreign Correspondents’ Club.
1. Fujiko Goto, Attorney at Law, registered with JFBA (Japan Federation of Bar
Associations, Nichibenren), Committee on Family Law Legislation.
2. Thierry Consigny, elected member of the Assembly for French Overseas
Nationals (AFE) for Japan and North Asia;
3. Hiroaki Morita, co-chairman of Japan Joint Custody Association
4. Masako A Suzuki, organizer of Left Behind Parents Japan.
URL of JJCA : http://kyoudousinkenhubo.cocolog-nifty.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/kyoudoushinkennokai/%5D
URL of Left Behind Parents Japan.; http://www.meetup.com/Left-Behind-Parents-Japan/
Venue: The Foreign Correspondence Club of Japan, Yurakucho Denki North Bldg. 20F
Yurakucho 1-7-1, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan URL: http://www.fccj.or.jp/
Day: May 24, 2010,
Time: 3pm to 4:15pm
The press conference will be in Japanese (with English translation) and English
R.S.V.P. Tel: +81-3-3211-3161
Here is a series of articles that have come out in the Japan Times which largely defend parents facing international arrest warrants for kidnapping children to Japan and argue against Japan joining the Hague Convention or following policies such as joint custody and joint parenting that would enable children to have access to both parents:
Link to May 5 Congressional Resolution Condemning Japan for Abduction of American Children
May 4, 2010
Here is an advance copy of the text of the U.S. House Resolution being introduced by Congressmen Chris Smith and Jim Moran on May 5, 2010 (National Holiday of “Children’s Day” in Japan), condemning Japan for the abduction of American children.
Christopher Savoie will be appearing on the Today Show on the morning of May 5 to speak about the House of Representatives bill condemning Japan for the kidnapping of American children. He also will appear on a Dateline segment at 7:00PM this Sunday, May 9, on NBC.
Below is a media advisory with details regarding the May 5 Congressional press conference:
For Immediate Release
May 3, 2010
Contact: Emily Blout (Moran) (w)202.225.4376/(c)202.494.2798; Jeff
Sagnip (Smith) 609.585.7878
—Media Advisory—
Moran, Smith to Unveil New Initiative on Child Abduction to Japan
Congress, Parents Point to Troubling Phenomenon
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Rep. Jim Moran, Democrat from
Northern Virginia, and Rep. Chris Smith, Republican from New Jersey,
will announce new steps to address the phenomenon of spousal abduction
of American children to Japan. Moran and Smith will be joined by other
Members of Congress, families of victims, and child custody experts to
shed light on this ongoing impasse with one of America’s closest
allies.
What: Press conference on child abduction to Japan,
introduction of Congressional resolution
When: Wednesday, May 5th at 1:30 pm
Where: U.S. Capitol House Triangle (located on grassy
triangle on the House side of the Capitol’s East Front)
Who: Reps. Jim Moran & Chris Smith, victims from
Northern Virginia and across the nation, experts on child abduction,
Members of Congress
Background: Child abduction to Japan occurs when a child is taken
to Japan by one parent, usually a Japanese citizen, in contravention
of the custodial American parent’s wishes. At least 121 American
children are currently being held in Japan under these circumstances.
Nationwide, the State Department has recorded 277 cases since 1994.
# # # #
Emily Blout
Press Secretary
Office of Rep. Jim Moran (VA-08)
2239 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Main: 202 225 4376
Cell: 202 494 2798
US House of Representatives to Introduce House Resolution condemning Japan for International Child Abduction.
On Wednesday, May 5th 2010, the Japanese National Holiday of Children’s Day, A United States House of Representatives House Resolution will be introduced condemning Japan for International Child Abduction and calling on Japan to facilitate the immediate return of all children abducted to Japan. This historic resolution comes after 58 years of zero cooperation by the Government of Japan on this issue. Of the 231 children abducted to Japan in the last decade, and the countless hundreds more abducted in the preceding decades, none have ever been returned, making Japan quite literally a black hole from which no child ever returns.
A Capitol Hill press conference introducing the resolution will be held from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM outdoors at the House Triangle, located near the Capitol building, opposite Longworth building (and over Independence Ave. road, away from Longworth building). Closest metro is Capitol South.
Speaking at the Press Conference will be Congressman James Moran (D-VA), Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), and many victim parents to include Christopher Savoie, Commander Paul Toland, Doug Berg and others.
Immediately following the press conference, the Bring Abducted Children
(BAC) Home foundation (http://www.facebook.com/l/13cee;www.bachome.org), consisting of victim parents of child abduction, will head to the Japanese Embassy for a 4:00 PM rally where the parents will take turns reading excerpts from the resolution in front of the embassy.
That evening, at 7:30 PM, BAC Home Foundation will hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Japanese Ambassador’s residence to remember and pray for the return of the 200+ abducted children.
May 5, 2010 Schedule:
1:30 – 2:30 PM: Capitol Hill Press Conference to introduce House Resolution condemning Japan for International Child Abduction. House Triangle.
4:00 PM: Bring Abducted Children (BAC) Home rally and House Resolution
Reading, Japanese Embassy. 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
7:30 PM – BAC Home Candlelight vigil, Japanese Ambassador’s residence, 4000 Nebraska Ave NW, Washington, DC
Children's Rights Council of Japan (Japan child abduction) 