Megumi Yokota children's rights protest in LA on Aug 18

A D V I S O R Y

Child Abduction Policies Protested

Documentary Premiere Sparks Protest on Abduction by Japanese of American Children

WHAT: A protest to highlight Japan`s denial of parental rights to American parents of children with dual Japanese/American citizenship abducted from the U.S. by Japanese partners against U.S. court orders.

The protest coincides with the U.S. premier of Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story, a documentary about the abduction by North Korea of a 13-year-old Japanese girl and Japan`s outrage over child abduction. It will occur on Sunset Blvd in the middle of Hollywood.

WHEN: Friday, August 18th, 2006 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Movie premieres at 1:45 p.m.; finishes at 4 p.m.)

WHERE:
ArcLight Theatres (in front of Cinerama Dome)
6360 W Sunset Blvd. (at Ivar, 2 blocks west of Vine)
Parking available in lot off Ivar

WHO:
** Parents of children abducted by Japanese and whose legally defined parental rights have been denied by Japan courts

** Children who have never met their siblings because of Japan's denial of parental rights

** Those who question Japan's moral integrity, as that country`s government chooses to ignore international family law unless it is to their advantage.

WHY:
American spouses/partners of Japanese nationals with whom they had children but subsequently parted have had their children abducted from the U.S. and taken to Japan against existing U.S. court orders.

Japan's consistent refusal to honor foreign custody rulings and extradition warrants from the FBI, Interpol and local authorities. In particular, Japan will not extradite the following citizens with outstanding arrest warrants: http://www.crnjapan.com/japanesewarrants.html

Japan will not sign the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, and is the only member of the G8 who has not signed.


BACKGROUND: For more information on this issue:
www.crnjapan.com/megumiyokotaprotest.html

EVENT CONTACT:
Phone: 310.795.1089
Email: [email protected]

Signs and other materials will be provided, so please contact Eric Kalmus at the above email or phone if you plan to attend.

Eric Kalmus
Protest Organizer and left-behind parent

Mark Smith
Webmaster of Japan Children's Rights Network and left-behind parent

Additional Background Information
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Media Reports on Japan as a Haven for Child Abduction
http://www.crnjapan.com/articles/

Specific problems related to child abduction in Japan
http://www.crnjapan.com/abduction/

Lost Parents Page to help children find their parents
http://www.crnjapan.com/familypages/

More personal stories of Japanese family law
http://www.crnjapan.com/pexper/

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