Rep. Christopher Smith (NJ-4) to Secretary of State John Kerry, "Japan has been breathtakingly unresponsive especially to abductions that occurred prior to ratification of the Hague (Abduction) Convention."

At her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, gives her commitment to promote and protect the welfare of  U.S. citizens in Japan.

During the hearing she is asked by Senator Ben Cardin if she will use her position to help resolve the almost 400 American cases that will not be covered under The Hague Abduction Convention.

Ms. Kennedy states that as a parent she understands the emotional aspects of this issue and that she has already indicated her concerns to Bureau of Consular Affairs in a meeting in advance of the hearing.

Yesterday, the  U.S. House of Representative’s held another hearing on International Parental Child Abduction. Substantive portions of the hearing focused on the Japan abduction crisis with Members of Congress calling for stronger action to return kidnapped children.

We are extremely concerned about the direction of the implementing legislation in the Japanese Diet. This is an intentional effort by ruling parties to create loopholes that will all but ensure that no child abducted in the future will be returned to their country of habitual residence. Additionally, Japan has continued to fail to address the current cases or provide aid or assistance in providing information on where children kidnapped from the U.S. and other countries are being held.

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.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today joined Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), John Kerry (D-MA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), James Inhofe (R-OK) and 10 colleagues to introduce a bipartisan resolution condemning the unlawful international abduction of all children. The resolution also calls on the United States and the international community to take additional steps to resolve current and future abduction cases. The resolution names the top ten countries for international child abduction. Japan is specified by name three times in the resolution.

Rep. Smith urges the Department of State to negotiate MOU with Japan concurrently with The Hague Convention or 173 American children abducted to Japan and their parents may be left behind permanently.

Testifying are The Honorable Susan Jacobs and The Honorable Kurt Campbell

The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights held a hearing on "Improving Implementation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction."
Testifying are The Honorable Susan Jacobs and The Honorable Kurt Campbell.

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) reads BAC HOME’s   six-point policy platform on American children kidnapped to and/or wrongfully retained in Japan during a Congressional Subcommittee Hearing on International Parental Child Abduction.

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) condemning Japan for the abduction of U.S. children.

—Media Advisory--***WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 at 11:00AM***

Moran to Mobilize Congress on Child Abduction to Japan Measure

Hours before House vote, Moran to hold press conference with members, victims

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Congressman Jim Moran, Democrat of Northern Virginia, will hold a press conference to call for swift passage of a resolution on child abduction to Japan. H. Res. 1326 was introduced by Moran in May and aims to up the pressure on the Japanese Government to work with the State Department to address hundreds of unresolved cases of spousal abduction of American children to Japan. On the day the resolution is slated for consideration on the House floor, Moran will join Members of Congress and left behind parents to shed light on this ongoing impasse.

Good afternoon, I want to sincerely thank my Congressman, Jim Moran, and Congressman Smith for their tireless efforts on behalf of all our abducted children, and for introducing this resolution on such a significant day in Japan, Children’s Day. My name is Douglass Berg, I am a veteran of the Armed Forces, and loving father of Gunnar (10 years old) and Kianna (9 years old) Berg who have been abducted to Japan.

Thank you, Representative Moran, Representative Smith and other Honourable Members of Congress, for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today on behalf of my children, and on behalf of many other victims of parental abduction to Japan.My name is Christopher Savoie and I am a father.  I am the proud, doting father of two beautiful children— my son, Isaac is 9 years old, and my daughter, Rebecca, is 7.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

BAC Home (Bring Abducted Children Home) met with Congressman James Moran (D-VA), along with other representatives to promote House Resolution 1326.         H. Res.1326 demands that Japan recognize American children unlawfully abducted by a parent to Japan.

Washington, District of Columbia

U.S. Senator Jim M. Inhofe (R-OK), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, submitted a written statement for the hearing on US-Japan relations about two subjects of concern: Japan’s hesitation on relocating the U.S. Marine’s Futenma Air Station and the ever increasing abduction of children to Japan.

Michael C. Gulbraa had two sons Michael K. & Christopher R. Gulbraa that were abducted by their US-citizen mother and US-citizen stepfather to Japan in November 2001. His statement was submitted to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearings on International Child Abduction. 

chrissmith.house.gov

Christopher Smith
Contact: Jeff Sagnip 202-225-3765

David Goldman, Left-Behind Parents Make Compelling Cases for Their Children's Return 
Ask Congress to Act @ Hearing on Int’l Child Abduction

Washington, Dec 2 -

The heartbreaking stories of left-behind parents whose children are held in other countries were laid out before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) at a hearing on international child abduction and parental access that also included judicial and legal experts, the head of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other witnesses.