Abducted in Japan
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Japan
‘Heartbreaking’: Penny Wong condemns abduction of Australian children in Japan
Parents warn Tokyo’s two-year delay in implementing new laws could trigger a “dash to the finish line” to abduct more children.
- by Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy
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Japan’s laws have changed. Now its society must too
Dozens of Australian parents and children have been caught in this outdated, cruel system. Now the Japanese government has finally relented.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Japan has finally changed its custody law. Australian parents fear it’s not enough
Australian parents of children abducted by their ex-partners in Japan say watershed reforms enabling joint custody don’t address the root cause of the issue.
- by Lisa Visentin and Eryk Bagshaw
Japan’s lower house passes joint-custody bill bringing hope to Australian parents
Dozens of children, including at least 89 with Australian parents, have been abducted in Japan by one parent under a century-old law.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Australia leads the way against Japanese child abductions
The Australian government has launched an unprecedented intervention in Japan’s domestic politics.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Japan
Seven more Australian kids abducted as Japan debates custody changes
The number of Australian children abducted in Japan has jumped by almost 10 per cent in the past year.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Japan ponders custody changes as Australia sends Hogwarts-style letters to abducted kids
Parents of abducted children say Japan’s proposed changes do not go far enough.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Japan
‘Extremely painful’: Canberra calls for action from Tokyo on Japan’s abducted children
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said they wanted children to be reunited with their Australian families.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Japan
Australia escalates diplomatic campaign against Japanese child abductions
In Japan, Australian parents live with the daily fear of their partner taking their children. The Australian government has stepped up its campaign for Japan to reform its family law system.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Documents expose deep divisions between Canberra and Tokyo on abducted children
Documents released under freedom of information laws highlight tensions on one of the most sensitive diplomatic disputes between the two nations.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Japan
‘It’s damaging children’: Japan’s abducted kids call for help at the G7
Victims say the pain the Japanese system causes children “is beyond the description” as they call on G7 leaders to escalate pressure on Tokyo.
- by Eryk Bagshaw