Lawmakers sitting on child advocate Representative Snyder’s ‘Criminal and Civil Policy Committee’ voted unanimously for the advancement of Representative Darryl Rouson and Senator Sobel’s sponsored ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill. The ‘Criminal and Civil Policy Committee’ was the last of six legislative committees that Carolyn Ann Vlk’s authored legislation needed to pass through. The bill, if now approved on both the Senate and on the House floors and then signed by Governor Crist will establish risk factors associated with potential parental child abduction and further provide courts with remedies to prevent a criminal abduction from occurring.
Today was a great day for the present and future children of Florida. With approximately 400,000 criminal parental child abductions occurring each year in this country, including nearly 11,000 international parental child abductions, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill will give courts the ability to act before the crime against innocent, defenseless children occurs.
Carolyn Ann Vlk said immediately after Representative Snyder’s committee’s ruling, “ With all of my heart, I want to thank Representative Darryl Rouson for his incredible and tireless efforts to protect the children of the state of Florida. Representative Rouson has acted with compassion while demonstrating incredible and necessary leadership the children of our state and their parents so desperately need.
“When I first set out to author the legislation that would become the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’, I have to admit it was no easy task. At the time that I sent out detailed packages of information regarding the growing severity of parental child abduction in our nation, including the fact that Florida had a very limited child abduction prevention law in place to dozens of lawmakers that I solicited, it was only Representative Darryl Rouson out of this group that immediately recognized the importance and need to have the state pass stronger child abduction prevention laws. At the time, I did not know just how dedicated of an advocate Representative Rouson is - a true legislative leader and complete defender of our children. I have such deep respect and admiration for him. When Representative Rouson and his legislative aide, Henry Moseley, invited me into their offices and began discussing child abduction, I realized I was sitting with two tenacious, intelligent men who really cared about our children. It was then that I realized Florida had a legitimate chance to pass preventive laws against child abduction.
“It has not been an easy road traveled on, but Representative Rouson and Henry Moseley worked long and hard at this bill. They have both been incredible. And I must acknowledge how Senator Eleanor Sobel soon realized the importance of this bill, and quickly sponsored it in the Senate. Between Representative Rouson and his dynamo legislative aid Henry Moseley, and, Senator Eleanor Sobel and her astute legislative assistant Nick Matthews, we had a strong nucleus.
“And when I reached out for much needed assistance, an incredible group of activist organized very quickly and worked tirelessly at educating the lawmakers here in our state’s capitol. It was remarkable that these caring individuals showed up - with Peter Thomas Senese and his family flying in from Los Angeles, and Ken Connelly flying in from Texas, and Captain William Lake coming down from the Pan Handle – all in the name of protecting our children. It was due to all of these combined efforts, and the fact that our lawmakers in this state really do now understand what is at risk, that today I am more optimistic than ever that the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ will soon become law.”
Next up for HB787 and the identical SB1862 is for each bill to be read two more times in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. After the third reading in each legislative branch, the bill is then brought for a floor vote. With three committees in each branch voting unanimously for the bill’s passage thus far, it is expected that the bill will quickly pass Florida’s legislative body and brought before Governor Crist for signing.
Peter Thomas Senese, the author of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ added after the vote, “Today we have seen how our nation’s perception of the cruel criminal act of parental child abduction is quickly changing from a non-event to the extraordinarily dangerous, abusive, and hideous crime against our children and their targeted parents that this act really is. With Florida’s Senate and House combining for six unanimous approval votes to pass the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, surely our nation and the world has taken notice.
“Unfortunately, our nation, and the world for this matter, has a growing epidemic called parental child abduction on its hands. According to various reports, international parental child abduction is increasing at a rate of nearly 40% per year. This is a giant leap in the number of international abductions – abductions that all too often do not have a positive outcome. So, in Florida, and due to a giant effort by Carolyn Ann Vlk, the lawmakers have acted swiftly. I applaud Representative Rouson and his legislative aid, the incredible Henry Moseley for taking the legislative lead on this important bill. And words of thanks and deep gratitude must be directed toward Senator Eleanor Sobel and her legislative aid Nick Matthews. But more than anyone, I want to thank my friend Carolyn Ann Vlk to have the courage and dedication to write the bill and work as hard as she has in order to protect our children. But we’re not done, the bills must pass both the senate’s and the house’s floor vote, then Governor Christ must sign this into law.”
Captain William Lake, the Floridian father of a young girl criminally kidnapped by the child’s mother and illegally detained in Japan said, “I am pleased to see that international parental child abduction is now beginning to be understood by policymakers the way it must. But my true hope, particularly in this state, is that the judges and our courts realize just how critical it is for them to act carefully and not blindly in the name of our children. They must actually enforce the laws they are responsible to enforce. So many abductions can be prevented if the courts act with caution and pay attention to warning signs and risk factors.”
For more information on Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, please visit www.floridachildabductionpreventionact.info. For more information on Peter Thomas Senese, International Parental Child Abduction, and ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
florida Child Abduction Act Passes House Committee: Parents Of Over 200 U.S. Children Criminally Held In Japan Rally In D.C.
As Florida’s House Of Representative ‘Policy Council’ Unanimously Passes today the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, the loving parents of over 200 criminally abducted children still in Japan are rallying this weekend in Washington DC in conjunction with the Cherry Blossom Festival, urging Japan to release their wrongfully detained children.
If Florida’s lawmakers needed to see first-hand the importance of Representative Darryl Rouson’s sponsored ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, all that is needed is for these policymakers to look into the eyes or listen to the voices of the fathers and mothers of ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’ who are uniting and rallying this weekend in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their disapproval and anger over Japan’s refusal to return over 200 United States children-citizens – many their own children – who were criminally detained in Japan.
Perhaps the lawmakers who sat on child advocate Representative Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’ had considered the fact that Japan has never returned an abducted child to the United States, when they unanimously voted on advancing Carolyn Ann Vlk’s authored ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill.
Next up for this critical bill that if made into law would allow courts to consider risk factors associated with a potential parental child abduction and to order remedies that would prevent such abduction from occurring, is for the House’s ‘Criminal and Justice Council’, to vote on the bill this Tuesday, April 13th, 2010. The council is chaired by Representative Snyder, who is known to be a defender and protector of children.
Representative Darryl Rouson, a lawmaker with a long and impressive history of advocating for children everywhere commented, “I am extremely pleased with the leadership that came out of Chairman Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’ this morning. Today marks the fifth legislative committee that the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill passed unanimously. Most of us policymakers in Tallahassee are parents or grandparents – we realize just how important it is to create laws that not only will protect our children, but will also protect the parents of our children who act in the best interest of our children. Prevention law is critical – and all you have to do is look at Washington, D.C. today and hear the pain in the voices of all of those loving parents who have had their children criminally abducted to Japan. And not one of our U.S. citizens has been returned home? This is beyond unthinkable. My prayers are with these illegally detained children and their parents as they fight the necessary fight to bring abducted children home! And this is why we, the lawmakers in Florida need to continue our expedite action of making the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill a law.”
Peter Thomas Senese, the author of the critically acclaimed ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ and producer of the groundbreaking documentary film ‘Chasing Parents’ said, “I am very pleased to see Representative Llorente’s leadership today as the ‘Policy Council’ passed unanimously the landmark bill my friend Carolyn Vlk authored. This bill will prevent many child abductions in Florida from happening. And by Florida demonstrating leadership, new laws will be passed in other states that will prevent abductions from occurring there. And that is why we’re all doing what we’re doing: to protect our innocent children from experiencing the cruelty of parental child abduction. As Representative Rouson pointed out, all you need to understand the nightmare that occurs in most every case is to look at the ordeal the parents of ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’ are doing this weekend in Washington, D.C. I mean, how could we not have preventive laws in place when countries like Japan have never returned a criminally parentally abducted child regardless if the abductor is a Japanese national or not? We need these laws, and we need them now. Fortunately, Representative Rouson realized that and acted. Unfortunately though, if lawmakers and the public in general had understood the reality of these types of abduction crimes, I am certain preventive laws would have been passed earlier, and parents like my friend William Lake, a Florida resident, would not be in D.C. protesting Japan’s shameful behavior. And on that note, I want to urge the public to look for and support the members of BAC Home who will be rallying this weekend during the Cherry Blossom Festival. They really need all the support they can receive.”
The cases of international abduction are endless. Each is different, yet they all have common threads that tie them together. Two of these threads are that a child that has been criminally abducted is removed from the child’s jurisdiction of habitual residency. The other is that the loving Chasing Parents left behind in the wake of their child’s abduction have limited resources available to bring their children home. Examples of this include loving parent Nigel Lewis’ pursuit of his abducted children Jasmyn and Cody, or Captain William Lake’s pursuit of his daughter Mary Victoria, or Commander Paul Toland’s desire to see his daughter Erika, or Doug Berg’s vigilance and endless effort to reunite with his children Gunnar and Kianna. Look at the action of Chris Savoie, who attempted to rescue his children Isaac and Rebecca, or the tragedy that Richard Wood faces in dealing with his daughter Tytiana, and son, Byron’s return. Sadly, the list goes on.
Brett Weed, the Vice President of Children’s Rights Council – Oregon Chapter and a Chasing Parent left staring at Japan’s black hole said, “According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16: “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” Both countries involved in international cases of abduction are in violation of this article if uncompromising efforts are not made in the recovery efforts of an abducted child.”
T. Miklia, another Chasing Parent said, “How much longer will the loss of U.S. children be considered good international policy and an acceptable by-product of U.S./Japan relations?”
Carolyn Ann Vlk, the author of ‘The Child Abduction Prevention Act’ sponsored by Representative Rouson and Senator Sobel added, “My heart breaks in learning of the tragedy after tragedy that each of these and many other parents must endure in the face of having a child abducted, particularly across international borders. I can’t imagine what it would be like to wake up every day and not see my child, who was an at-risk child. I hope and imagine that the lawmakers here in my state of Florida are not only listening to the voices of the loving parents in our state who are urging for this critical piece of legislation to be made into law, but I hope they hear the voices and see the faces of our friends in Washington this weekend. Surely, they will come to realize that the issue of parental child abduction is global in nature and perhaps more complex and heartbreaking than they could ever imagine. I urge the lawmakers in my wonderful state to pass the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill and share with the world that the crime of parental child abduction will not be tolerated in our state, and in civilized nations, for that matter. And finally, if you’re in Washington over the coming days, please take the time to visit the parents from ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’. They need your support. Their children desperately need your support.”
For more information on the Florida ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’, please visit www.floridachildabductionpreventinact.info. For more information on Bring Abducted Children Home, please visit www.bachome.org. For more information on ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, Peter Thomas Senese, or international parental child abduction, please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com.
If Florida’s lawmakers needed to see first-hand the importance of Representative Darryl Rouson’s sponsored ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, all that is needed is for these policymakers to look into the eyes or listen to the voices of the fathers and mothers of ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’ who are uniting and rallying this weekend in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their disapproval and anger over Japan’s refusal to return over 200 United States children-citizens – many their own children – who were criminally detained in Japan.
Perhaps the lawmakers who sat on child advocate Representative Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’ had considered the fact that Japan has never returned an abducted child to the United States, when they unanimously voted on advancing Carolyn Ann Vlk’s authored ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill.
Next up for this critical bill that if made into law would allow courts to consider risk factors associated with a potential parental child abduction and to order remedies that would prevent such abduction from occurring, is for the House’s ‘Criminal and Justice Council’, to vote on the bill this Tuesday, April 13th, 2010. The council is chaired by Representative Snyder, who is known to be a defender and protector of children.
Representative Darryl Rouson, a lawmaker with a long and impressive history of advocating for children everywhere commented, “I am extremely pleased with the leadership that came out of Chairman Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’ this morning. Today marks the fifth legislative committee that the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill passed unanimously. Most of us policymakers in Tallahassee are parents or grandparents – we realize just how important it is to create laws that not only will protect our children, but will also protect the parents of our children who act in the best interest of our children. Prevention law is critical – and all you have to do is look at Washington, D.C. today and hear the pain in the voices of all of those loving parents who have had their children criminally abducted to Japan. And not one of our U.S. citizens has been returned home? This is beyond unthinkable. My prayers are with these illegally detained children and their parents as they fight the necessary fight to bring abducted children home! And this is why we, the lawmakers in Florida need to continue our expedite action of making the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill a law.”
Peter Thomas Senese, the author of the critically acclaimed ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ and producer of the groundbreaking documentary film ‘Chasing Parents’ said, “I am very pleased to see Representative Llorente’s leadership today as the ‘Policy Council’ passed unanimously the landmark bill my friend Carolyn Vlk authored. This bill will prevent many child abductions in Florida from happening. And by Florida demonstrating leadership, new laws will be passed in other states that will prevent abductions from occurring there. And that is why we’re all doing what we’re doing: to protect our innocent children from experiencing the cruelty of parental child abduction. As Representative Rouson pointed out, all you need to understand the nightmare that occurs in most every case is to look at the ordeal the parents of ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’ are doing this weekend in Washington, D.C. I mean, how could we not have preventive laws in place when countries like Japan have never returned a criminally parentally abducted child regardless if the abductor is a Japanese national or not? We need these laws, and we need them now. Fortunately, Representative Rouson realized that and acted. Unfortunately though, if lawmakers and the public in general had understood the reality of these types of abduction crimes, I am certain preventive laws would have been passed earlier, and parents like my friend William Lake, a Florida resident, would not be in D.C. protesting Japan’s shameful behavior. And on that note, I want to urge the public to look for and support the members of BAC Home who will be rallying this weekend during the Cherry Blossom Festival. They really need all the support they can receive.”
The cases of international abduction are endless. Each is different, yet they all have common threads that tie them together. Two of these threads are that a child that has been criminally abducted is removed from the child’s jurisdiction of habitual residency. The other is that the loving Chasing Parents left behind in the wake of their child’s abduction have limited resources available to bring their children home. Examples of this include loving parent Nigel Lewis’ pursuit of his abducted children Jasmyn and Cody, or Captain William Lake’s pursuit of his daughter Mary Victoria, or Commander Paul Toland’s desire to see his daughter Erika, or Doug Berg’s vigilance and endless effort to reunite with his children Gunnar and Kianna. Look at the action of Chris Savoie, who attempted to rescue his children Isaac and Rebecca, or the tragedy that Richard Wood faces in dealing with his daughter Tytiana, and son, Byron’s return. Sadly, the list goes on.
Brett Weed, the Vice President of Children’s Rights Council – Oregon Chapter and a Chasing Parent left staring at Japan’s black hole said, “According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16: “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” Both countries involved in international cases of abduction are in violation of this article if uncompromising efforts are not made in the recovery efforts of an abducted child.”
T. Miklia, another Chasing Parent said, “How much longer will the loss of U.S. children be considered good international policy and an acceptable by-product of U.S./Japan relations?”
Carolyn Ann Vlk, the author of ‘The Child Abduction Prevention Act’ sponsored by Representative Rouson and Senator Sobel added, “My heart breaks in learning of the tragedy after tragedy that each of these and many other parents must endure in the face of having a child abducted, particularly across international borders. I can’t imagine what it would be like to wake up every day and not see my child, who was an at-risk child. I hope and imagine that the lawmakers here in my state of Florida are not only listening to the voices of the loving parents in our state who are urging for this critical piece of legislation to be made into law, but I hope they hear the voices and see the faces of our friends in Washington this weekend. Surely, they will come to realize that the issue of parental child abduction is global in nature and perhaps more complex and heartbreaking than they could ever imagine. I urge the lawmakers in my wonderful state to pass the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill and share with the world that the crime of parental child abduction will not be tolerated in our state, and in civilized nations, for that matter. And finally, if you’re in Washington over the coming days, please take the time to visit the parents from ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’. They need your support. Their children desperately need your support.”
For more information on the Florida ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’, please visit www.floridachildabductionpreventinact.info. For more information on Bring Abducted Children Home, please visit www.bachome.org. For more information on ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, Peter Thomas Senese, or international parental child abduction, please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Parents Of Hundreds of Abducted Children Rally In Japan This Weekend!
Japan: The Black Hole of International Parental Child Abduction
Chasing Parents from all over the United States who have their children criminally abducted and detained in Japan have joined together under the banner of ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’ (www.bachome.org/events), in an effort to raise the public’s awareness on the growing cruelty directed at defenseless, innocent U.S. children-citizens victimized by the act of international parental child abduction. The group, which consists of nearly 50 Chasing Parents and their supporters have descended on Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers and government officials in order to press for the return of their children, while also intending several formal protests and awareness campaigns in order to educate the scores of visitors celebrating Japan’s culture.
The timing of their rally could not be better: this week, Washington celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival, where over a million visitors are expected to visit the nation’s Capitol. One of these visitors expected to visit is Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Japan has never returned a child that has been internationally parentally kidnapped and illegally detained in their country in accordance to the laws of the child’s nation of habitual residency. According to various reports, it is estimated that there are over 1,300 children who had been criminally abducted from a foreign country and presently criminally detained in Japan. In addition, in the last decade alone there were 167 child abduction cases in Japan reported to the State Department involving 230 children. This, despite an assortment of U.S. court orders and demands for these children to be returned home.
Zero abducted children returned from Japan equates to this country becoming known as the ‘Black Hole of Abduction’, and a ‘Safe Harbor’ for parental child kidnappers.
Sadly, most American citizens and for that matter, most citizens of developed and progressive-leaning countries have no idea that Japan is a safe-harbor for child abductors, none of whom face prosecution or extradition in Japan. And why would the public not know this? Isn’t Japan one of the United States’ strongest strategic partners and allies? On the surface, the answer to this question is ‘yes’. But how can a strategic partner allow for criminally abducted children to remain in their country and under the guidance and care no less, of the abducting parent?
Culturally, Japan’s courts allow for only one parent to have access and custody of a child during divorce proceedings. Tragically for the child and the parent not selected to be with their own child by the court, contact and communication is frowned upon and not approved. This approach is far different than the West, where research and common sense demonstrate that a child is best served by knowing the love of both parents.
For example, the case of Navy Commander Paul Toland and his daughter Erika's plight provides one microcosm that there is more to Japan's refusal to comply than what is commonly referred to as 'cultural differences in law'. In Commander Toland's case, his daughter Erika was abducted by the child's
US Citizen mother while he was assigned in Japan on military duty. Shortly after, the mother died, and the grandmother took possession of Erika where she remains until this day, held captive in a country that has never returned a child. The US State Department tried to intervene and asked to visit Erika to check on her welfare and well-being, but the grandmother denied their request. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked to
visit Erika to check on her welfare and well-being, but again, the
grandmother denied their request. In the Japanese system, where no enforcement mechanisms exist and compliance is completely voluntary, all any government agency can say is "We're sorry, we tried." Nobody can offer any remedies or solutions, because none exist. Commander Toland, who is
Erika's sole legal custodian under Maryland State Law, remains with absolutely no access to his daughter. Erika has been gone now for nearly seven years. Her father Paul loves her with all of his heart.
Commander Toland commented, "I never dreamed that serving my country overseas in one of our allied nations would result in the loss of my only child. Japan is supposedly an ally of the United States, so why does the United States continue to
tolerate this behavior from Japan? How can a nation that we call an ally be guilty of such despicable human rights violations and get away with it? Our children are all we have, and every civilized society has the responsibility to ensure that their most vulnerable citizens, their children, have the opportunity to know and love their parents."
In another case that cuts through the chatter of cultural issues is the case of Captain William Lake. In Captain Lake’s case, his former spouse, who is not a Japanese citizen, abducted his daughter Mary Victoria to Japan despite an array of court orders. The abducting parent has no national ties to Japan; however, for nearly five years Japan has provided a safe harbor for the abducting parent despite having no connection to Japan. Mary Victoria will be 13 this Sunday. Her father William loves her greatly.
Christopher Savoie, who drew international media attention to the Japanese government's complicity with child kidnappers when he was wrongfully detained by Japanese police last year while attempting to retrieve his two kidnapped children stated, "I am glad that the tide is turning and that this extremely shameful aspect of Japanese culture is being exposed for what it is. People are starting to realize all of the previously closely guarded dirty secrets of Japanese society such as the popularity and legality in Japan of child pornography, legal "consensual" sex with 13 year-old children, cover-ups about killer vehicles, the ruthless killing of dolphins and the most disgusting secret of all -- that Japan officially and shamelessly supports and even assists in the kidnapping of innocent kids from countries that are supposedly their 'allies'."
‘The Hague Convention On The Civil Aspects Of International Parental Child Abduction’ offers citizens of countries that have signed the international treaty remedies that can legally order for the return of the child. Japan has not signed this treaty, despite internal and external pressure being placed on the Prime Minister and the Diet to do so.
Presently in Japan, there is heavy discussion going on internally about Japan becoming a signatory of the Hague Convention. Petitions from Japanese citizens who face international abduction and have had their own children abducted abroad have come to recognize that they have little recourse available to them for the return of their own children due to Japan’s failure to sign the international convention. In addition, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has openly said that he would like to see Japan sign the Hague Convention, but cautioned that it might be a year before the nation does so because of the slow moving Diet.
Randy Collins, the father of Keisuke Christian Collins - Abducted June 16, 2008 by Reiko Nakata stated, "Any person from Japan that makes the choice to visit or live in United States, must obey ALL laws of the US. When the Japanese parent violates U.S. laws on U.S. soil with existing court orders already in place, by illegally abducting a child to Japan, that parent MUST be extradited back to the US and the child MUST be returned to their habitual residence."
Diplomacy and dialogue are key, but with a zero return rate – ZERO – diplomacy has been too slow for every abducted child and their Chasing Parent. It is critical that the voices of caring individuals – mothers, fathers, and children of somebody – all of us – share our concern with Japan for creating a ‘Black Hole For Child Abductors’. After all – we’re talking about Japan, not some militant third world country, right?
Perhaps Tony Del Vecchio, who lost custody of his eleven-year-old daughter after protracted litigation in the Tokyo District Court, said it best, "For a foreigner divorcing a Japanese national, loss of parental rights followed by denial of access to one’s child is a fait accompli."
Peter Thomas Senese, a successful Chasing Parent and author of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ commented, “None of these parents expected or anticipated for the abduction of their children to occur. And surely, unless you have walked in the shoes as a Chasing Parent left behind in the wake of criminal child abduction, most individuals can ever understand just how complex, painful, and costly it is to deal with abduction in an international environment. These parents and their children’s ordeal demonstrates just how difficult it is to have an abducted child returned.”
The loving Chasing Parents of children held illegally in Japan ask you to show your sign of support for their children and their efforts to bring them home. For more information, including a schedule of their activity during the coming week, please visit www.bachome.org
Chasing Parents from all over the United States who have their children criminally abducted and detained in Japan have joined together under the banner of ‘Bring Abducted Children Home’ (www.bachome.org/events), in an effort to raise the public’s awareness on the growing cruelty directed at defenseless, innocent U.S. children-citizens victimized by the act of international parental child abduction. The group, which consists of nearly 50 Chasing Parents and their supporters have descended on Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers and government officials in order to press for the return of their children, while also intending several formal protests and awareness campaigns in order to educate the scores of visitors celebrating Japan’s culture.
The timing of their rally could not be better: this week, Washington celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival, where over a million visitors are expected to visit the nation’s Capitol. One of these visitors expected to visit is Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Japan has never returned a child that has been internationally parentally kidnapped and illegally detained in their country in accordance to the laws of the child’s nation of habitual residency. According to various reports, it is estimated that there are over 1,300 children who had been criminally abducted from a foreign country and presently criminally detained in Japan. In addition, in the last decade alone there were 167 child abduction cases in Japan reported to the State Department involving 230 children. This, despite an assortment of U.S. court orders and demands for these children to be returned home.
Zero abducted children returned from Japan equates to this country becoming known as the ‘Black Hole of Abduction’, and a ‘Safe Harbor’ for parental child kidnappers.
Sadly, most American citizens and for that matter, most citizens of developed and progressive-leaning countries have no idea that Japan is a safe-harbor for child abductors, none of whom face prosecution or extradition in Japan. And why would the public not know this? Isn’t Japan one of the United States’ strongest strategic partners and allies? On the surface, the answer to this question is ‘yes’. But how can a strategic partner allow for criminally abducted children to remain in their country and under the guidance and care no less, of the abducting parent?
Culturally, Japan’s courts allow for only one parent to have access and custody of a child during divorce proceedings. Tragically for the child and the parent not selected to be with their own child by the court, contact and communication is frowned upon and not approved. This approach is far different than the West, where research and common sense demonstrate that a child is best served by knowing the love of both parents.
For example, the case of Navy Commander Paul Toland and his daughter Erika's plight provides one microcosm that there is more to Japan's refusal to comply than what is commonly referred to as 'cultural differences in law'. In Commander Toland's case, his daughter Erika was abducted by the child's
US Citizen mother while he was assigned in Japan on military duty. Shortly after, the mother died, and the grandmother took possession of Erika where she remains until this day, held captive in a country that has never returned a child. The US State Department tried to intervene and asked to visit Erika to check on her welfare and well-being, but the grandmother denied their request. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked to
visit Erika to check on her welfare and well-being, but again, the
grandmother denied their request. In the Japanese system, where no enforcement mechanisms exist and compliance is completely voluntary, all any government agency can say is "We're sorry, we tried." Nobody can offer any remedies or solutions, because none exist. Commander Toland, who is
Erika's sole legal custodian under Maryland State Law, remains with absolutely no access to his daughter. Erika has been gone now for nearly seven years. Her father Paul loves her with all of his heart.
Commander Toland commented, "I never dreamed that serving my country overseas in one of our allied nations would result in the loss of my only child. Japan is supposedly an ally of the United States, so why does the United States continue to
tolerate this behavior from Japan? How can a nation that we call an ally be guilty of such despicable human rights violations and get away with it? Our children are all we have, and every civilized society has the responsibility to ensure that their most vulnerable citizens, their children, have the opportunity to know and love their parents."
In another case that cuts through the chatter of cultural issues is the case of Captain William Lake. In Captain Lake’s case, his former spouse, who is not a Japanese citizen, abducted his daughter Mary Victoria to Japan despite an array of court orders. The abducting parent has no national ties to Japan; however, for nearly five years Japan has provided a safe harbor for the abducting parent despite having no connection to Japan. Mary Victoria will be 13 this Sunday. Her father William loves her greatly.
Christopher Savoie, who drew international media attention to the Japanese government's complicity with child kidnappers when he was wrongfully detained by Japanese police last year while attempting to retrieve his two kidnapped children stated, "I am glad that the tide is turning and that this extremely shameful aspect of Japanese culture is being exposed for what it is. People are starting to realize all of the previously closely guarded dirty secrets of Japanese society such as the popularity and legality in Japan of child pornography, legal "consensual" sex with 13 year-old children, cover-ups about killer vehicles, the ruthless killing of dolphins and the most disgusting secret of all -- that Japan officially and shamelessly supports and even assists in the kidnapping of innocent kids from countries that are supposedly their 'allies'."
‘The Hague Convention On The Civil Aspects Of International Parental Child Abduction’ offers citizens of countries that have signed the international treaty remedies that can legally order for the return of the child. Japan has not signed this treaty, despite internal and external pressure being placed on the Prime Minister and the Diet to do so.
Presently in Japan, there is heavy discussion going on internally about Japan becoming a signatory of the Hague Convention. Petitions from Japanese citizens who face international abduction and have had their own children abducted abroad have come to recognize that they have little recourse available to them for the return of their own children due to Japan’s failure to sign the international convention. In addition, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has openly said that he would like to see Japan sign the Hague Convention, but cautioned that it might be a year before the nation does so because of the slow moving Diet.
Randy Collins, the father of Keisuke Christian Collins - Abducted June 16, 2008 by Reiko Nakata stated, "Any person from Japan that makes the choice to visit or live in United States, must obey ALL laws of the US. When the Japanese parent violates U.S. laws on U.S. soil with existing court orders already in place, by illegally abducting a child to Japan, that parent MUST be extradited back to the US and the child MUST be returned to their habitual residence."
Diplomacy and dialogue are key, but with a zero return rate – ZERO – diplomacy has been too slow for every abducted child and their Chasing Parent. It is critical that the voices of caring individuals – mothers, fathers, and children of somebody – all of us – share our concern with Japan for creating a ‘Black Hole For Child Abductors’. After all – we’re talking about Japan, not some militant third world country, right?
Perhaps Tony Del Vecchio, who lost custody of his eleven-year-old daughter after protracted litigation in the Tokyo District Court, said it best, "For a foreigner divorcing a Japanese national, loss of parental rights followed by denial of access to one’s child is a fait accompli."
Peter Thomas Senese, a successful Chasing Parent and author of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ commented, “None of these parents expected or anticipated for the abduction of their children to occur. And surely, unless you have walked in the shoes as a Chasing Parent left behind in the wake of criminal child abduction, most individuals can ever understand just how complex, painful, and costly it is to deal with abduction in an international environment. These parents and their children’s ordeal demonstrates just how difficult it is to have an abducted child returned.”
The loving Chasing Parents of children held illegally in Japan ask you to show your sign of support for their children and their efforts to bring them home. For more information, including a schedule of their activity during the coming week, please visit www.bachome.org
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Japan: The Safe Harbor For Parental Children Kidnappers
Imagine having your child criminally kidnapped and abducted by the child’s other parent to another country that is known as a fortified and impenetrable safe-harbor for child abductors. Now consider the notion that this nation is one of the United States main strategic allies and trading partners. Are you thinking that this is impossible? Are you wondering what country this is?
Welcome to Japan.
As astronomers push our minds and imaginations by studying the universe, we have come to learn that ‘black holes’ exist many light years away. Think again.
Since at least the inception of The Hague Convention On The Civil Aspects On International Parental Child Abduction – the main international treaty that addresses international parental child abduction – which Japan still has not signed – there has never been one criminally kidnapped and parentally abducted child returned by Japan to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or anywhere else for that matter.
Once a criminally kidnapped child enters into Japan with their abducting parent, the abducting parent has entered a safe harbor, and fear of prosecution or extradition are put aside. As for the abducted, victimized child – they, like the Chasing Parent left behind in the wake of their child’s abduction, have entered into a black hole where both short and long-term damage almost always plagues the child for the rest of their life.
I will reiterate the unthinkable: It is believed that no child abducted to Japan has ever been returned.
According to various government and independent reports, it is estimated that there presently are 85 active cases involving approximately 230 American children-citizens who have been kidnapped and are presently illegally detained in Japan during the time period of 2000 through mid-2009. There have been hundreds of cases that have been closed during this time period. Information on why these cases have been closed was not available at the time of this article.
In addition, there are at least 38 children-citizens from the United Kingdom, and at least 37 children-citizens from Canada presently being held illegally in Japan. According to William Duncan, the Deputy Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, there are approximately 1,300 children in total presently living in Japan that are considered abducted and who’s wrongful retention is in violation of criminal kidnapping and abduction laws originating from these children’s countries of original jurisdiction.
So what do you do if your child has been abducted to Japan? This question is the very same question scores of heartbroken but determined loving parents have asked themselves for some time.
Except now, it appears that the tide is turning, and the voices of determined Chasing Parents have finally reached the policymakers in Washington and Tokyo. And their message is clear: Japan’s failure to uphold the laws of the nation of an abducted child’s original jurisdiction will no longer be tolerated.
Last month a two-day close door meeting took place between leading Hague-signatory countries and leaders in Japan, the Ambassadors of the Hague-signatory nations stated in a joint press conference:
We, the Ambassadors to Japan of Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States have on several occasions expressed our concern to the Government of Japan about the increase in international parental abduction cases involving Japan and affecting our nationals.
We welcome recent statements by the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Justice Minister and other Japanese officials recognizing the seriousness of this international problem. We are encouraged by recent positive initiatives by the Government of Japan, such as the establishment of the Division for Issues Related to Child Custody within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this spirit, today we have concluded a two-day symposium during which experts from our nations discussed aspects of child abduction with Japanese Government officials and other leaders in this field.
So, you might be asking yourself, why is Japan clearly violating court orders from foreign courts that possessed jurisdiction of the child due to the child’s habitual residency?
Well, the answers are can be found in the nation’s culture and laws. First, change in Japan typically does not occur from within the nation’s borders. If change does occur, it is typically due to the international community expressing urgent concern over this country’s behavior. In addition, the family laws governing divorce and separation in Japan give only one parent custody and guardianship of the children of the divorce, and custody is almost always issued to the mother of the children. And in almost all cases, the non-custodial, non-guardian parent seldom sees the children of the marriage once the divorce action begins.
In addition, parties in Japan have consistently stated that there is great fear in ordering the return of the child and abducting parent because the majority of these cases involve domestic violence.
On February 2nd, 2010 Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell was asked a specific question regarding domestic violence and Japan’s policy of no-return from Maegawa, a reporter from Japan’s national newspaper Asahi Shimbun. The following was taken directly from the United States Department of State’s website.
QUESTION: Thank you for taking my question. I’m Maegawa from Asahi Shimbun, a national newspaper in Japan. I have a question on the Hague -- this issue – because some Japanese citizens are very concerned because this issue includes some of the domestic violence cases where some spouses or ex-spouses have actually fled from the spouses and had no choice but to take the children with them. How do you answer that question?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY CAMPBELL: I have to say, I've heard this on a number of occasions from Japanese friends, and I think that there is the view that this is a very widespread phenomenon. These allegations caused extraordinary unhappiness among this community, most of whom in the United States already had legal custody, sometimes had gone through divorce or were separated. We can find almost no cases of alleged or actual substantiated claims of violence and where those apply, we of course, understand and support that. But because of the legal situation in Japan, I think that this allegation is used very loosely and oftentimes inappropriately without any supporting criteria whatsoever, and our particular issue is with a situation in which once there has been a separation or a divorce in the United States and when a parent is given dual custody -- parents are given dual custody -- and one of the parents takes the children to Japan outside of a legal framework that's been established. That's kidnapping, and that's a very grave and worrisome problem that needs to be dealt with. I would say that there is a substantial misconception on this issue in Japan that the cases that we are dealing with are primarily those of domestic abuse. Our judgment would be that that is not the case. Okay, last question.
Pressure inside Japan seems to be mounting to sign the Hague Convention. Recently, a Czech father took his Czech-Japanese son to the Czech Republic outside of court orders. The action was met with a loud outcry in Japan, as the mother of the child collected 10,000 Japanese signatures urging Japan to sign the Hague Convention so that the left behind mother could legally attempt to recover her child.
So, perhaps change is occurring within Japan, but internal change has not been something the country is known for.
Diplomatic efforts by countries including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom continue to put great pressure on the Diet and Japan’s Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama. In February of this past year, Hatoyama stated that he was willing to sign a treaty that addressed international parental child abduction, but cautioned that it might take until next year before this is achieved.
Japan’s Prime Minister Hatoyama is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. on April 9th, 10th, and 11th in conjunction with the Cherry Blossom Festival.
It is expected that a large and vocal group of Chasing Parents from the United States will make their concerns known during the weeklong festivities in Washington. These parents of criminally kidnapped and wrongfully retained children are anticipated to meet with various legislative leaders, key members of the U.S. Department of State, and are expected to pass out flyers and other information during the Cherry Blossom Festival.
For more information of the children still captive in Japan, the parents who are desperately trying to bring them home, and how to show your support, please visit http://bachome.org. For more information on Peter Thomas Senese and ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com
Representative Darryl Rouson’s Child Abduction Bill Advances
Today in Florida’s Senate the ‘Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee’ Chairman Christ, Vice-Chairwoman Wilson, and the remaining committee members voted unanimously in favor of ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ sponsored by children advocates Senator Eleanor Sobel and Representative Darryl Rouson.
Today, Florida’s lawmakers demonstrated remarkable local and national leadership as this critical piece of legislation designed to prevent domestic and international parental child abduction took another major step forward into becoming reality. With all three necessary senate committees all voting unanimously on SB 1862, the next step is for the bill to be voted on the senate floor in the coming weeks. It is greatly anticipated that the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, written by child advocate
Carolyn Ann Vlk, will overwhelmingly pass the Senate.
Up next for the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ is Chairman Representative Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’, which is expected to agenda the bill this coming Friday. Representative Llorente, the Chairman of the House’s Policy Council, is an active advocate and supporter of children’s causes. An independent bill analysis conducted by his committee was extremely favorable of HB 787.
However, the critical legislation still faces some serious obstacles in the House of Representatives. The most serious one is if Representative William Snyder, the Chairman of the House’s ‘Criminal and Civil Justice and Policy Council Committee’ and a policymaker with a long and distinguished career in law enforcement will agenda the bill if in fact it passes through Representative Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’ this Friday, as it is expected to. According to a staff member in Representative Snyder’s office, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ is on the Chairman’s radar, and he is carefully following its movement.
Carolyn Vlk, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ author said today after the Senate’s unanimous vote, “Today marks another step forward in the creation of law that will protect the children of our state from the cruelty of child abduction. I am very pleased to see Chairman Christ’s and Vice-Chairwoman Wilson’s leadership today. The citizens of our great state should take note of their leadership. Now, SB 1862 will be brought to the Senate floor. And with three unanimous Senate committee votes, it appears that the Senate is in full support of the bill. And I would like to share my deep appreciation for Senator Eleanor Sobel for her continued commitment to protecting the children of our state. Senator Sobel is deeply respected in the Senate and by her constituents.”
Peter Thomas Senese, the producer of the documentary film on international parental child abduction titled ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ and the author of the highly praised upcoming book titled ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ stated after the Senate’s vote, “Today is a clear indicator that the lawmakers in Florida take very seriously their responsibility to protect the children of the state. By passing unanimously this bill through all three senate committees, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill looks that much closer to becoming a reality. When this bill becomes law, the lawmakers of Florida will have set an example for many other states to follow. Fortunately, the issue of parental child abduction has been one that is understood by the policymakers for exactly what this is: a cruel crime against innocent children who need their protection. This bill must be passed into law. And when it does, I believe many other states and their lawmakers will follow the leadership the policymakers in Florida have demonstrated.”
Representative Darryl Rouson, who initially sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives previously stated, “I am extremely pleased with today’s Senate Judiciary Committee passage of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill. Obviously there is more work to do; however, it is becoming clearer by the day that my fellow lawmakers realize just how critical this bill is for all children residing in the state of Florida. Unquestionably, when the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ becomes law, the safety of our children in this state will increase substantially. And that, our children’s safety, is what this is all about.”
Today in Florida, it was a good day for our children.
To learn more about Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, please visit www.floridachildabductionpreventionact.info. To learn more about international parental child abduction, please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com.
Today, Florida’s lawmakers demonstrated remarkable local and national leadership as this critical piece of legislation designed to prevent domestic and international parental child abduction took another major step forward into becoming reality. With all three necessary senate committees all voting unanimously on SB 1862, the next step is for the bill to be voted on the senate floor in the coming weeks. It is greatly anticipated that the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, written by child advocate
Carolyn Ann Vlk, will overwhelmingly pass the Senate.
Up next for the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ is Chairman Representative Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’, which is expected to agenda the bill this coming Friday. Representative Llorente, the Chairman of the House’s Policy Council, is an active advocate and supporter of children’s causes. An independent bill analysis conducted by his committee was extremely favorable of HB 787.
However, the critical legislation still faces some serious obstacles in the House of Representatives. The most serious one is if Representative William Snyder, the Chairman of the House’s ‘Criminal and Civil Justice and Policy Council Committee’ and a policymaker with a long and distinguished career in law enforcement will agenda the bill if in fact it passes through Representative Llorente’s ‘Policy Council’ this Friday, as it is expected to. According to a staff member in Representative Snyder’s office, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ is on the Chairman’s radar, and he is carefully following its movement.
Carolyn Vlk, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ author said today after the Senate’s unanimous vote, “Today marks another step forward in the creation of law that will protect the children of our state from the cruelty of child abduction. I am very pleased to see Chairman Christ’s and Vice-Chairwoman Wilson’s leadership today. The citizens of our great state should take note of their leadership. Now, SB 1862 will be brought to the Senate floor. And with three unanimous Senate committee votes, it appears that the Senate is in full support of the bill. And I would like to share my deep appreciation for Senator Eleanor Sobel for her continued commitment to protecting the children of our state. Senator Sobel is deeply respected in the Senate and by her constituents.”
Peter Thomas Senese, the producer of the documentary film on international parental child abduction titled ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ and the author of the highly praised upcoming book titled ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ stated after the Senate’s vote, “Today is a clear indicator that the lawmakers in Florida take very seriously their responsibility to protect the children of the state. By passing unanimously this bill through all three senate committees, the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill looks that much closer to becoming a reality. When this bill becomes law, the lawmakers of Florida will have set an example for many other states to follow. Fortunately, the issue of parental child abduction has been one that is understood by the policymakers for exactly what this is: a cruel crime against innocent children who need their protection. This bill must be passed into law. And when it does, I believe many other states and their lawmakers will follow the leadership the policymakers in Florida have demonstrated.”
Representative Darryl Rouson, who initially sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives previously stated, “I am extremely pleased with today’s Senate Judiciary Committee passage of the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill. Obviously there is more work to do; however, it is becoming clearer by the day that my fellow lawmakers realize just how critical this bill is for all children residing in the state of Florida. Unquestionably, when the ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ becomes law, the safety of our children in this state will increase substantially. And that, our children’s safety, is what this is all about.”
Today in Florida, it was a good day for our children.
To learn more about Florida’s ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill, please visit www.floridachildabductionpreventionact.info. To learn more about international parental child abduction, please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
peter Thomas Senese Gives Away Educational Film On Parental Child Abduction In Order To Increase Awareness.
‘Chasing Parents’ Filmmaker Peter Thomas Senese Demonstrates Commitment To Raising Awareness On Child Abduction: Offers DVD of Groundbreaking Film On Parental Child Abduction To Governments and Advocacy Groups Worldwide.
Peter Thomas Senese, the producer of the groundbreaking documentary film created to educate society on the grave dangers of international parental child abduction titled ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ announced today that Pacifica TWST will make available to all government agencies, embassies, courts, and children’s advocacy groups worldwide complimentary copies of the upcoming DVD release of the enlightening and first-of-its kind educational film that provides substantial insight into the global epidemic of international parental child abduction.
Peter Thomas Senese is committed to raising awareness on the ever-increasing number of criminal parental child abductions that occur each year in the United States and throughout the world. In the United States, it is believed there are over 10,000 international abductions that occur each year. This number may be significantly higher. It has been cited by various U.S. government reports that roughly 380,000 parental child abductions occur in the country each year, and that this number is increasing substantially each year. Tragically, many abducted children are never returned, and too many are lost forever.
A microcosm of this cruel and unacceptable situation includes that over the past four decades, and perhaps longer, it is believed that no child ever abducted from the United States to Japan has ever been returned home. This unbelievable fact is even that much harder to comprehend when considering Japan’s role as a strategic partner and ally of the United States. Formal protests led by Chasing Parents who have children criminally detained by Japan are expected in Washington, D.C. this week in conjunction with the arrival of Japan’s Prime Minister and the Cherry Blossom Parade. Japan’s policy to remain a safe harbor for their own nationals who commit child abduction while living abroad, or who enter their country with an illegally detained and criminally abducted child is at the forefront of concern for individuals who advocate the rights of a child, and Japan’s intolerable and inexcusable conduct as a kidnapping safe-harbor.
Peter Thomas pointed out, “My friend and Florida resident Captain William Lake is a loving father who has had his daughter criminally abducted to Japan by his former spouse – a country the child and the child’s other parent have no attachment to whatsoever. For nearly six years, Japan has refused to honor a court order issued by the United States – the court of habitual residency of the child - that has ordered for the child to be returned back to the United States. Captain Lake’s victimized child is one of at least 88 United States children, 38 Canadian children, and 37 European children kidnapped to Japan. Their Chasing Parents continue to attempt to deal with the child abduction black hole that is now known as Japan. It’s incredible, but Japan is not the only country that harbors child abductors. Countries from Asia and the Middle East including China and Saudi Arabia are just as bad as Japan, perhaps worse because of the pedophilia trade in these countries. But most of our citizens do not know this because it’s just so outrageous and incomprehensible. But outrageous and incomprehensible is the world of international parental child abduction. And this is why legislators need to pass abduction prevention laws immediately.”
Peter Thomas is a former Chasing Parent who has experienced what it is like to face the dire storms of having a child criminally abducted and detained across multiple international borders. The noteworthy author of the critically acclaimed upcoming release of the hardcover book publication of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ (publication date of June 1st, 2010) successfully reunited with his child after traveling on a long, costly, and complex journey that took him to the other side of the world.
“There is never a day that I do not realize just how lucky and fortunate my family is to have been reunited. However, I also know personally of the common pain and unbearable suffering felt by those parents who still search for their children. I know just how extraordinarily difficult it is for the vast majority of parents to safely rescue and recover their children because the systems that have been created to protect their child’s safety have not worked efficiently, and, the gaping hole in preventive child abduction law has in fact been the catalyst for the increasing number of crimes our innocent children face. So in my own way, I am trying to do something about it.
“I am pleased to announce that Pacifica TWST will make available ‘Chasing Parents’ to all institutions that serve abducted children and their targeted parents. In producing this film, my friend, and the author of the extremely insightful book on child abduction from the eyes of a child titled ‘Throwing Stones’, Mr. Ken Connelly, and I had several goals in mind that would serve the global community that has an interest in child abduction. The first goal was to provide insight and education on domestic and international parental child abduction in hopes to create dialog that would affect policymakers and courts charged with the responsibility to protect children. We also wanted to create an accessible blueprint or guide for those parents who might face abduction to turn to prior to, during, and post-abduction reunification. And finally, we hoped to provide insight on how to deal with your child after a successful recovery.
“Unfortunately, and to the best of my knowledge, there never has been comprehensive, informative, and instantly accessible material created that was supported by film and made instantly available for parents who desperately need assistance prior to, during, or after their child’s abduction. ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’ does just that, and the film’s content is fully supported online at the official website of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, which is scheduled for worldwide publication on June 1st, 2010.
“Hopefully, the dedicated effort we put forth will not only help parents prevent an abduction or assist in the recovery of a child criminally abducted, but I hope that lawmakers will continue to turn to the film in order to expand their understanding of parental child abduction so that they may demonstrate leadership in creating much needed child abduction prevention law. I know first-hand that the state of Florida’s lawmakers in now in session in Tallahassee have watched the film as my friend Carolyn Vlk’s skillfully crafted and critically needed ‘Child Abduction Prevention Act’ bill has moved swiftly through Florida’s legislative branch of government. So, in this sense, the film is meeting one of its primary objectives and that is to educate lawmakers responsible for creating policy to protect our children.”
The eye-opening film consists of seven segments: Part I – Introduction, Part II – Warning Signs, Part III – Abduction In Progress, Part IV – Parental Alienation and Child Abduction, Part V – Post Abduction Reunification, Part VI – Reform and Change.
The now finished production is for Peter Thomas Senese the completion of a four-part educational campaign he promised to create once his journey of chasing the cyclones of international parental child abduction ended. The main components of this campaign include the creation of a highly informative website on international parental child abduction: (www.chasingthecyclone.com). In addition, Peter Thomas’ ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, the critically acclaimed upcoming novel inspired by the author’s own experiences has been praised by reviewers as a story that will provide readers with insight on international abduction commencing from the well-planned criminal act to the inconceivable odyssey of an attempted child recovery. In addition, the groundbreaking documentary film ‘Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction’, offers insight into all aspects of parental child abduction. And it was Peter Thomas’ intent to participate in efforts to lobby and educate lawmakers so to create and implement child abduction prevention laws.
Segments of ‘CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into The Storms Of International Child Abduction’ are presently available for preview at ‘Chasing The Cyclone’s’ official website, www.chasingthecyclone.com. The producer points out that the documentary was made possible in part due to other Chasing Parents, children of abduction, and leading experts working in the area of International Parental Child Abduction’s eagerness to share their stories and perspectives.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
'Chasing The Cyclone' Author Peter Thomas Senese Urges Florida Lawmakers To Pass 'Child Abduction Prevention Act'.
Author, Filmmaker, and Children’s Advocate Peter Thomas Senese is a successful Chasing Parent committed to raising society’s awareness on the dangers that exist when a child is abducted by one parent from another. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 400,000 parental child abductions occur each year, with an estimated 10,000 of these abduction crimes against defenseless children being international in nature. Tragically, many internationally abducted children are never returned. Too many are lost forever.
The arsenal of skillfully crafted and riveting tools the outspoken children’s advocate has created in order to educate others about the travesty of child abduction include the critically acclaimed upcoming worldwide publication of Chasing The Cyclone and the release of the now completed groundbreaking documentary film Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction. Both book and film will be released in multiple languages, including French and Spanish.
In commenting about the growing success of Chasing The Cyclone and Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction, Peter Thomas Senese stated, “When I wrote Chasing The Cyclone and when I produced the film Chasing Parents I did so with one goal in mind, and that was to be able to create thoughtful, provoking, and highly educational entertainment vehicles that would shake the tree and raise global awareness on the terrible and dangerous plight of innocent children and targeted parents who must unexpectedly race into some of the darkest, and at times, deadliest storms you could ever imagine once a child is abducted, particularly across international borders. But education in itself was not my specific goal – the real target was to be able to use these products in order to assist in changing the legal landscape for children and victimized parents. This meant to strongly participate in the dialogue of creating laws that would serve our nation’s children.
“International Parental Child Abduction is no joke. It is a growing worldwide epidemic that could be halted in its tracks if two critical actions unilaterally take place. Critically, the first is that preventive laws must be established that would enable local courts of jurisdiction the opportunity to assess risk factors and act accordingly before an international parental child abduction occurs. The second task is that all nations must be held accountable for harboring parental child abductors who steal children across international borders either as a direct breach of the Hague Convention or as a direct violation of laws originating from the child’s place of original jurisdiction.”
Peter Thomas Senese has been one of the main orchestrators behind the advancement of Florida’s lawmakers to pass the state’s Child Abduction Prevention Act written by advocate Carolyn Ann Vlk, and sponsored by Representative Darryl Rouson and Senator Eleanor Sobel. Presently, The legislation has passed unanimously through two Senate Committees and one House Committee. The bill is expected to be placed before to legislative councils for review in the coming week. Over the past month, Senese has provided members of both Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives with copies of Chasing The Cyclone, and, has directed many legislators and their aides to the Chasing The Cyclone website, where they have been able to view the specifically created educational segments of Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction.
“It has been very satisfying to know that the true intent in creating Chasing The Cyclone and producing Chasing Parents – which was to inform lawmakers on the real challenges of child abduction, and offer solutions that could reduce the number of crimes against our children is actually having the impact I envisioned and hoped for when I first set out to create these tools. Having spent substantial time in person or on the telephone with Florida’s policymakers and their legislative aides, it is truly gratifying to learn that people are paying attention to the works I have created. And it is most pleasing to see the number of online viewers based in Tallahassee who have spent time watching the educational documentary film I and Ken Connelly – who was a victim of abduction and is one of our lead advocates on this bill – have created. And though we know we, along with Captain William Lake and Carolyn Ann Vlk all know we have a long way to go and a short time to get there before this bill becomes law, it is satisfying to know that my efforts may be making a difference. And make no mistake, the goal is high: It is to create law that will protect our children.”
Carolyn Ann Vlk, Florida’s Child Abduction Prevention Act and chief architect added, “The assistance of Peter Thomas Senese, the author of the critically acclaimed Chasing The Cyclone, and the producer/narrator of Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms of International Parental Child Abduction, to bring this legislation to the forefront of Florida’s legislators has been immeasurable. Peter Thomas’ professionalism, dedication, organization, commitment, and skills as a writer, speaker, filmmaker, and advocate has had a far-reaching effect. Whether it was sending a vast number of Florida’s lawmakers copies of ‘Chasing The Cyclone’, or directing them to view the documentary film on abduction, ‘Chasing Parents’, or creating the bill’s website, or flying into Tallahassee to speak before our legislative government, or paying for airline tickets so other advocates can petition our Senators and Representatives, Peter Thomas Senese has been open, fully committed, and unselfish. His willingness to share his personal story as that of a chasing parent while recovering his own child has touched the hearts of many, including the legislators he has met or communicated with. I am eternally grateful for his dedication, his ability to educate our lawmakers by providing them with copies of Chasing The Cyclone and creating the documentary Chasing Parents – all have played a significant role in creating further understanding for our lawmakers. I deeply respect his commitment to assist with the implementation of a law that will prevent other families from experiencing the tragedy of child abduction. Peter Thomas Senese’ impact has been far reaching.
Peter Thomas Senese, the father who dropped everything and chased into the cyclones of abduction and after his own child said, “If you are a parent chasing after your child, you must know hope, know faith, and allow the love you have for your child or children to fuel you. And never, never give up in the belief that you will bring your child home.”
Chasing The Cyclone, the thrilling, gut-wrenching, and gripping love story of a father and his son, penned under Peter Thomas, and praised by critiques as a book all loving parents or individuals who hope to have children must read, will be released in hardcover wherever books are sold on June 1st, 2010. Chasing Parents: Racing Into The Storms Of International Parental Child Abduction, the documentary film on international parental child abduction, will be released in late June, and will be made complimentary of charge to all courts, legislators, and children advocacy organizations involved with child abduction courtesy of Pacifica TWST.
For more information please visit www.chasingthecyclone.com