Child abduction in Japan affecting European citizens
22.1.2020
Question for written answer E-000354/2020
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Ignazio Corrao (NI), Piernicola Pedicini (NI), Chiara Gemma (NI), Daniela Rondinelli (NI), Mario Furore (NI), Eleonora Evi (NI), Laura Ferrara (NI), Rosa D'Amato (NI), Sabrina Pignedoli (NI), Tiziana Beghin (NI)
Every year in Japan around 150 000 children are taken away by one of their parents, preventing the other parent from having any future contacts with the child.
This happens with the full knowledge of the Japanese authorities, which tolerate flagrant violations of national law and failures to comply with judicial measures.
Some of these cases involve children who are European citizens. Moreover, they are denied any future relationship with their fathers, who are also European citizens.
All of this takes place in breach of the rights guaranteed to minors by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Japan in 1999), and of the right of parents to maintain a bond with their children.
Given the above, can the VP/HR:
- 1.provide information about the actions undertaken to protect the rights of the European citizens involved, both minors and parents, aimed at coordinating and supporting the efforts of national embassies and at putting an end to these very serious violations of human rights?
- 2.communicate the number of European citizens, both minors and parents, affected by these violations?
- 3.provide information about the concrete actions he intends to take in this regard, also in light of the recent EU-Japan trade agreement and the related strategic partnership agreement?