Urging Japan to Ratify the Hague Abduction Convention

Vice-Minister Yamahana greets some of the Ambassadors and other Embassy representatives.

Feb. 16 - The Ambassadors of Canada, the European Union, France, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, the Political Counselor of the Embassy of Australia, and the Consul of Colombia, called on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuo Yamahana on Feb. 9 to express the importance they continue to attach to the issue of international parental child abduction, and to once again urge Japan to ratify the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and implement measures to enable parents currently separated from their children to maintain contact with them, ensure visitation rights, and resolve their cases. The group issued a press release later which stated in part, "We look forward to Japan reaching a positive decision to ratify the Convention as soon as possible."