Rally planned to raise awareness of parental abduction issue during Biden visit

Its been a long time coming, now I see the Parents are fed up and are demanding change. Not only Vice President Biden, but all the countries involved should try to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible and demand that Japan put parents back in contact with their children immediately, grant meaningful visitation rights, bring about an immediate end to parental abduction, and return children to the parent where its clear the custody should lie. Above all, the courts has to respect Parental Rights in their rulings and the law needs to be enforced!

Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. In any case, I doubt that Biden will even be aware of the rally.

I don't understand how people can underestimate the will of a parent who loves their child. A loving parent will go through hell and back again for their child. What I doubt is a little rain will stop these parents.

Sadly, even if Japan does acknowledge the haigue agreement they will make sure there are loop holes to be exploited. There is also the issue of no joint custody laws in Japan, which makes one ask, why would Japan even consider giving joint custody to a foreigner when they don't give it to the Japanese?

Its in their best interest to create new laws that give equal rights to everyone, regardless of nationality. I seriously doubt they will do what Disillusioned has stated.

The only abduction issue the Japanese government is interested in is the North Korea one.

Good for them! If I lived in the area I would go and support them!!

JApan said they were going to sign the Hague convention, but these poor parents don't get retroactive justice.

The only abduction issue the Japanese government is interested in is the North Korea one.

And look where that's gotten them, How did that work out so far?

I do agree, it is time, don't know if Biden is even aware of what's going on as Smartacus stated, but the main point is, that under the current child custody laws, both foreign and Japanese suffer. These laws are outdated, unfair, illogical and it is good that it is getting the attention that has been lacking for far too long. It's a huge mountain climb, but I truly believe that very, very soon, we'll get to the top. Now it is even more critical than ever to stay the course and never let up!

Time for Japan to be dragged into the 20th century!(into the 21st is asking too much!)

Drag'em kicking & screaming if need be, its the only way this country has a chance to survive in so many areas of life/work/play

sole custody favouring policy in Japan is quite an ironic one, because this country's step-parents just love smacking the crap out of their step-kids.

@NeoJamal

Drag'em kicking & screaming if need be, its the only way this country has a chance to survive in so many areas of life/work/play

And what are you trying to imply by this?? I'm pretty certain you have no clue as what is to lose a child and never see him/her again. Do not think this is a "foreign" problem. Thousands of Japanese parents have lost children the same way. The Draconian/outdated/archaic laws do not help anyone. It keeps this country way behind the rest of the world. Our corrupted/draconian government insist in maintaining such laws at all costs. Those who think this is something that only foreign parents suffer are truly mistaken. This is a very huge problem that's been swept under the rug by these dirty bureaucrats. As I stated before, long before the Edo-jitai, children were regarded as third class citizens, therefore, making them worthless compared to many things like a house or a farm. Still, There are no real laws that protect children in this country, that I have to admit as someone born here. There are NO real laws to ensure the safety and welfare of children. There are just some "guidelines" that are rarely enforced. Child abduction is been a problems for many many years now and although there are groups dedicated to fight this, even after Japan signs the Hague convention, nothing will ever change, unless.....the domestic laws are reformed and updated.

Nicely worded BlueWitch, you understand this about a Right the Japanese Courts are denying Parents and Children.

I will probably going to see them when they go thru Toranomon. I can't join them but I support their actions.

Unfortunately, an article I read last month in JapanTimes , informs that along with signing the Hague Convention, Japanese government is preparing a set of laws which basically are going to make the signing meaningless

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110809zg.html

My son was illegally abducted from the US to Japan even though court orders were already in place for neither of us to leave the county we lived in. The arrogance and hypocrisy of Japan is appalling. Japan begs for help for the US (which they have given behind the scenes and in public) in regards to the Yokota abduction over 30 years ago, while Japan supports, condones, and encourages the abduction of thousands of American chidlren. Nearly twice as many American children were illegally abducted by Japanese nationals than what N. Korea abducted over 30 years ago. Japan has imprisoned 2 foreign parents who tried to recover their abducted children for "International Child Abduction". Japan currently is seeking extradition of 2 fathers from the Czech Republic and Pakistan for "International Parental Abduction" Yet, Japan turns a blind eye to the thousands of children abducted to Japan every year. This is utter hypocrisy. The excuse of protecting them from the big bad "american abuser" is a lie. No standard and basic rules of evidence has ever been followed for any of these criminals/fugitives. Here's a news flash, a husband not sharing his pudding with his wife is NOT abuse and is a slap in the face of those women and children who truly are being abused within Japan. Those Japanese nationals who entered the US on a green card, agreed to abide by the laws of this country. By fleeing the US with the child, they violate US laws. Japan should do the respectable and honorable thing by having these fugitves extradited. But that would mean having any "honor and respect". Hopefully VP Biden will express this ever-growing epidemic with the Prime Minister of the worlds worst offender of Parental Abductions.

Time for Japan to be dragged into the 20th century!(into the 21st is asking too much!)

Drag'em kicking & screaming if need be, its the only way this country has a chance to survive in so many areas of life/work/play

Bluewitch,

I think you were refering my post not neojamal, anyway my 2nd bit about drag'em kicking & screaming refers to JAPAN not to children in case that wasnt clear, you then went on to sum up exactly what I was refering to!!! :)

I think many parents understand the sensitivity of the Japanese people to the North Korean Abduction issue, but the sensitivity to the parents who have lost all contact with their children here in Japan has to be understood as well. All the governments, including Japan, with nationals affected by this tragedy need to show compassion to the feelings of the parents who have been cut out of their children's life.

@GW

My apologies, I was actually referring to NeoJamal's reply yo your post, but as an act of "magic", his post was removed along with his response. I agree with your post, no worries. (^_^)

ah the magic LOL!

@socain

I truly understand where you are coming from and I am very sorry for the pain you were put through. I was abducted myself as a child and I can tell you from personal experience that it is a very traumatic and emotional torture on the kids heart, mind and soul. You covered every angle and Japan should be ashamed of itself for hurting and harboring kidnapped children, but as BlueWitch said, "The Draconian/outdated/archaic laws do not help anyone."

That Japanese parents now forget , North Korean Abduction...?

socaln8ive: Feel for you dude, Japan needs to get with the times

Its not always that clear cut - the person who takes the children from the other parent may well be trying to protect the children and themselves.

Parental kidnappings do not garner the media attention and sense of urgency from law enforcement that they deserve. Experts say there is a perception among the public and law enforcement officials that children kidnapped by their parents are not in danger. While it is true that statistics from the US department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Protection indicate that only 4% of children abducted by their parents are physically harmed, can we so easily forget to consider the emotional toll it takes on these innocent victims. Having had twenty two months now since the abduction of my three daughters, Rion, Lauren and Julia, to study the issue thoroughly, I have no doubt that the emotional toll taken on each one of them will be profound and unique. Without describing in great detail all of the effects of parental abduction and parental alienation, suffice to say that there is a plethora of emotional and psychological pitfalls they have already experienced and more which lay ahead for my kids. Research indicates that the abductor parent often feels that there will be no effect on the children from the abduction event whereas the scientific data indicates otherwise. Children who are abducted suffer from a multitude of emotional difficulties related directly to their abduction. The abductor parent in their delusion and self interest often rationalizes that they are “saving the children” from a life of hardship with the left behind parent when the truth of the matter is that it could not be farther from the truth. In general, their narcissist and borderline personality disorders will not allow them to compromise and deal in good faith. When they realize that such characteristics will be required to co-parent, they abduct the children to maintain control and seek revenge against the left behind parent. When parental abduction is condoned, sanctioned and encouraged by a system such as the Japanese family law system, the abducted children and the left behind parent have no chance whatsoever to preclude this emotional damage from happening. I maintain that my children are not possessions of my estranged wife who have no human rights. I believe that they have a right to access and contact with both of their parents. I will fight for their rights until I draw my final breath. Most distressing of all of these effects of parental abduction and alienation is when the abducted child(ren) is brainwashed to hate the left behind parent by their abductor. This is my greatest fear. While some children are able to overcome this as adults and ultimately develop a relationship with their left behind parent, sadly for many, this is an insurmountable difficulty. I would not have previously thought this possible of my estranged abductor wife, pre-abduction, but now I accept that it is likely. In conclusion, the fact that parental abduction hurts the children emotionally seems like common sense. Forcibly remove a child from a loving parent and expect no problems for said child? Ridiculous. As the title of this piece says, parental abduction is child abuse, that is all there is to it.

@Roman

parental abduction is child abuse, that is all there is to it

You're dead right. Hope things get better for you.

At first I thought this was about aliens, then N Korea, but now I know. Of course Japan must join the civilized world.

smartacus -- Biden knows!! http://www.prurgent.com/2011-08-19/pressrelease190498.htm Parents of abducted children urge VP Biden to address International Parental Child Abduction

There are men who abuse their wives and children and their families have every right to leave and seek peace and safety. Most of these women (and some men) run for a reason.