Signing and Deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Hague Convention)
by Ambassador Tsuji on behalf of the Government of Japan

1 On January 24, the Government of Japan decided at its Cabinet Meeting to sign, accept, and promulgate the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Hague Convention).

2 In response to the decision, on the same day, Ambassador Tsuji carried out the signing and deposit of the instrument of acceptance of the Hague Convention at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Mr. Damoiseaux, Head of Treaties Division of the Ministry as well as Mr. Bernasnoni, Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law which made the Hague Convention, attended the ceremony.

3 Thus, the Hague Convention will enter into force for Japan on April 1, and the Central Authority in charge of implementation of the Convention will be launched. Japan will be the 91st Contracting State of the Convention.

4 Since the number of people who move across borders has dramatically increased and international marriage and divorce have increased in recent years, it is very important for the Government of Japan to conclude the Hague Convention, which is an international rule to deal with issues such as the wrongful removal of a child. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will work to appropriately implement the Hague Convention from April 1, when the Hague Convention will enter into force.

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