By Jeffery Morehouse

On my recent trip to Japan, I met with several of the leaders, activists and groups in movement there to end parental child abduction and create joint custody laws. Their domestic problem is enormous in its volume. I met parents that had some briefly monthly visitation and as extreme as a father who has not seen his children for seven years. He would later assist me as I tried to deliver a present for my son on New Year’s Day.

One of the interesting facets was to see the utilization of Japanese animation characters in doing the public outreach at the event in Gifu, Japan. Frankly at first, I thought it was strange and undercut the seriousness of this human and family rights issue. Then I looked at it through local eyes and saw its brilliance. These characters create an easy entry point to the hearts and minds of children and young women.

Dear Mochi,

We miss you so much and think about you everyday and pray that you are being well taken care of but, we along with your Daddy, want you to come back to your home. There are so many fun things waiting for you here.

Today, by unanimous consent the United States Senate passed S. Res. 543: International Parental Child Abduction. Japan is specified by name three times for these ongoing abductions.

The resolution condemns the unlawful international abduction of all children. It also calls on the United States and the international community to take additional steps to resolve current and future abduction cases.

BAC Home directors, members and friends worked diligently since August to provide information to senate staff on the vital importance of this resolution and the ongoing crisis of International Parental Child Abduction to Japan and other countries. This condemnation by the United States Senate is not an end, but a very solid step that we will continue to build on in the coming year.