The Diet is expected to endorse Japan's joining the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and to approve a related bill in the current session. It is also expected that Japan, by yearend, will become a member of the convention, which addresses child custody issues in cases involving broken international marriages.
Japanese married to foreigners and living abroad often decide to unilaterally bring their children back to Japan if their marriages break down. Once Japan becomes a member of the convention, the practice of removing such children from their country of habitual residence will no longer be tolerated.
The government must make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the treaty functions properly to uphold the best interests of the children involved.