Passport application of girl born during divorce mediation with no family registry applies put on hold

Mainichi Daily News
January 8, 2007
Source: Rough translation by CRN Japan member

While in the process of divorcing her former husband a woman had a baby with a new guy back in 1990. After the baby was born the woman did not register it on the family koseki. She eventually got the divorce in 1992 and claims she left because her husband was violent. Am not sure but I think she says she didn't register the child with the ward office because she feared her ex-hubby would find out where she lived. I think what happens is that if the ex started a process where he would deny the child was his he could find out her address.

Anyway, it made the news because the child, now 16, applied for a p/port and her appl was not accepted. Her p/port appl now been put on hold and the gov's foreign affairs dept has taken the case up. The girls supporters say it's against her human rights.