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Australia asks Japan to adopt joint custody

By on March 23, 2023

Responding to cases of cross-border parental child abduction, Australia has asked Japan to introduce a joint custody system where divorced parents can share custody of their children.

In a written opinion submitted by the Australian government to Japan’s Justice Ministry, it is demanding a revision to the Civil Code allowing visitation rights to children under the custody of  the Japanese parent with whom the Australian spouse is divorced.

The Civil Code granting sole custody only to either parent after a divorce is viewed as a reason for parental abduction cases between Japan and Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that at least 82 children had been abducted by their Japanese parents since 2004 after the breakup of their marriage with Australian partners.

Japan joined the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction in 2014, which stipulates that custody disputes be resolved after children are returned to their original countries of residence.

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