Events

Here is a list of Children's Rights and Japan related events you may be interested in.

Upcoming

none known

Past

April 27, 2007.  The Children's Rights Council of Japan will hold a press conference from noon to 3:00 PM in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and will hold a candlelight vigil outside the White House that evening.  In conjunction with this event, California senator Barbra Boxer sent a letter to President Bush asking him to "...press Prime Minister Abe to support ratification of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and to implement a formal two-parent signature requirement for obtaining passports for minors."  For the full press release go to www.crcjapan.com

February 3, 4, 10, 11, 2007.  Portland Oregon.  Fourth protest at the showing of the documentary "The Megumi Yokota Story"

January 12, 2007.  New York City, NY. Third protest at the showing of the documentary "The Megumi Yokota Story"

November 20-26, 2006. Washington D.C.  Second protest at the showing of the documentary "The Megumi Yokota Story"

August 18, 24.  There was a protest at the opening and closing of the documentary "The Megumi Yokota Story" at the ARC Light theatre in LA.  There were banners in both English and Japanese about the hypocrisy of Japan's complaints, when Japan itself will not return children abducted to Japan by Japanese citizens with outstanding arrest warrants for child abduction.  (The details page has pictures and a summary of events from the protest.)

August 18-19, 2006.  Japanese left-behind parents will travel to the top of Mt Fuji to "Call out for love from the top of Japan." Non-Japanese are heartily invited to join this trip.  (The details page has some pictures from this event.)

May 20, 2006.  Its year number three for Stefan Born's Children's Rights protest at the Japan festival in Düsseldorf Germany.  Stefan has a website dedicated to these ongoing protests against Japanese family law.  He will be handing out Japanese and English versions of several articles that have recently appeared in Japan.

December 3, 2005.  Seminar on the Hague Convention and International Child Abduction   This event, on Saturday December 3, 2005 will bring together Consular officers from 35 Embassies in Japan, visiting diplomatic officers, NGOs, officials from the Japanese government, parents, lawyers, and mental health professionals to discuss issues related to international child abduction.

May 28, 2005.  For the second year in a row, Stefan Born and left behind parents hold a Children's Rights protest at the Japan festival in Düsseldorf Germany.  Stefan has a website dedicated to these ongoing protests against Japanese family law.

May 5, 2004 and June 5, 2004.  Left behind father Stefan Born held protest demonstrations on 5 May 2004 (Japan's Children's Day :  “Kodomo no hi" ) in front of the Japanese Consulate General and on “Japan day”, 5 June 2004 near the Rhine river in Düsseldorf. Details and pictures of these Japan Children's Day demonstrations in Germany.

March 11, 2004.  Father's Website, CRN Japan and CRC Japan held a joint press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo to explain and illustrate the Japanese phenomenon of Legal De-facto Child Abduction.  See the Press page for more information and reports from this event.

2003年12月6日（土）結婚、離婚と子どもの権利－子どもの誘拐と外国人である親が直面する諸問題。 誘拐と聞くと、まず思い浮かぶのは金目当ての犯行です。しかし現実では、結婚崩壊のあと片方の親が子供を「誘拐」し、 もう一方の親に子どもを会わせないというケースがかなりあります。この問題が特に難しいのは、子どもが国境を越えた場合です。 シンポジウムでは、この状況を経験した親の話を聞き、日本政府の対応の問題を議論します。 最後に、この問題を避けるためにできることについて話し合う予定です。 スピーカーはDavid Brian ThomasとYamila Castellanosでした。 お二人とも、自分の子どもが配偶者に誘拐されたことのある被害者です。 詳細は、こちら。。。

November 3, 2003.  Town Hall meeting about International Abduction for US Citizens.  There will be a "Town Hall" meeting in San Francisco on November 3, 2003 for U.S. parents with children who are victims of international child abduction. Prior registration is required and must be made by October 10 by calling 202-736-9124, fax 202-736-9133 or email askci@state.gov. For those who can travel to San Francisco for this, it offers opportunities to have your voice heard, network with others (especially other parents with the same issues), and gather information and ideas. This information comes from the U.S. State Department, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty.

November 6-8, 2003. Children's Rights Council's 14th National Conference. "Effecting Positive Outcomes for Children: Assisting Separated, Divorced and Never-Married Parents" Ramada Inn, Hanover, Maryland  Presentations include topics such as re-entry of a parent into a child's life, mediation techniques, trends and outlook in custody law reform, parental alienation syndrome, and implementing neutral drop-off and pick-upsites and supervised access sites. While much of this conference has a U.S. perspective, there are many aspects that can be universally applied.