Cabinet endorses Japan's plan to join int'l child custody pact

Cabinet endorses Japan's plan to join int'l child custody pact

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan formally approved on Friday Japan's policy of joining an international treaty that sets procedures for settling cross-border child custody disputes, after coming under foreign pressure to accede to the pact for years.

With the Cabinet approval, Japan launched preparations for signing the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by crafting domestic legislation to endorse the pact.

The outline of bills expected to be submitted to the Diet by the end of this year for concluding the treaty stipulates that the Japanese Foreign Ministry will be designated as the central authority to locate children wrongfully removed or retained by one parent and secure the voluntary return of them.