On May 24, 2011, BAC Home members completed two days of meetings in Washington D.C. which culminated in attending a Congressional hearing on International Child Abduction. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) who has been a strong advocate of human rights issues and was key in last year’s H. Res. 1326 near unanimous passage last September chaired the hearing.
At the hearing, which placed a strong emphasis on the abduction of children to Japan, Representative Smith announced a new bill that he is introducing to Congress. The bill will create a framework for the U.S. government to more actively deal with the international abduction of U.S. children. He also announced that there will be additional hearings on the issue and a special hearing specifically on abductions to Japan. This is a major step in moving forward toward meaningful change.
The four hours of testimony included three experts and six left-behind parents of children abducted to several countries, including Japan. Representative Smith closed out the hearing by reading from BAC Home’s policy which was drafted in response to Japan’s announcement of intent to sign The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Here is an overview of our position. BAC Home believes the following six point policy is essential to return kidnapped American children and prevent further abductions to and within Japan.
I. Japan Must Immediately Return the Stolen Children
II. Japan Must Provide Unfettered Access to Our Precious Children
III. Japanese Must Enact Retroactive Laws
IV. Japan’s Hague Implementation Legislation must meet the spirit of The Hague
V. Japan Must Unambiguously Define the “Best Interest of the Child”
VI. Japan Must Immediately Locate Our Missing Children
The four hours of testimony included three experts and six left-behind parents of children abducted to several countries, including Japan. Representative Smith closed out the hearing by reading from BAC Home’s policy which was drafted in response to Japan’s announcement of intent to sign The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Here is an overview of our position. BAC Home believes the following six point policy is essential to return kidnapped American children and prevent further abductions to and within Japan.
I. Japan Must Immediately Return the Stolen Children
II. Japan Must Provide Unfettered Access to Our Precious Children
III. Japanese Must Enact Retroactive Laws
IV. Japan’s Hague Implementation Legislation must meet the spirit of The Hague
V. Japan Must Unambiguously Define the “Best Interest of the Child”
VI. Japan Must Immediately Locate Our Missing Children
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