Justice ministry officials say 'abduction' of a child by a parent is a crime but it is up to the family courts to deliberate.
A growing number of foreigners in Japan are speaking out against what they say is a little-known but entrenched system that allows one parent in a broken relationship to take away the children and block the other from visiting them.
Australian Scott McIntyre was the latest foreigner to raise his voice against the estrangement of separated parents from their children in Japan. “Sitting here today, I don’t know if my children are alive or dead,” McIntyre told a news conference on Thursday, a day after he received a six-month suspended sentence.
“This is only going to change when Japanese parents speak out as well,” McIntyre said, adding that he had received many letters of support from local parents suffering the same plight. “Children should have access to both parents - it’s a fundamental human right.”But non-profit organization Kizuna Child-Parent Reunion estimates that roughly 150,000 children lose contact with a parent every year in Japan because of estrangement from the non-custodial parent.
Asked about the legality of one parent taking away a child without the other’s consent, a Tokyo Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the agency “could not state in general whether it was illegal.” The plight of such parents last year prompted French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to raise their concerns with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Japan reports case of virus behind China latest outbreak | The Malaysian InsightIt’s the second time the coronavirus has been detected outside China.
Read more »
Investors from UK to Japan keen on developing new Indonesian capitalJAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/ANN): At least five foreign investors have expressed their interest in developing Indonesia's new capital city in East Kalimantan, a minister has said, as the government seeks greater private sector involvement in financing the relocation plan.
Read more »
US, EU, Japan agree on new subsidy rules with China trade in focusBeijing is again the focus of criticism from its main trading partners. FMTNews Japan
Read more »
Kento Momota leaves for JapanNSTsports: Japan's KentoMomota, who was involved in a road crash on Monday, left for Japan today.
Read more »
Momota, 2 officials return to Japan | The Malaysian InsightThey were accompanied by BAM president to KLIA.
Read more »
Badminton world No. 1 Kento Momota leaves Malaysia, bound for Japan | Malay MailSEPANG, Jan 15 — The world’s top shuttler Kento Momota and two Japanese badminton officials, who were injured in a crash in Serdang near here on Monday, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) this morning to return to Japan. Momota and the two officials were received by...
Read more »