Japan’s lawmakers pass a revision to the country’s civil code that will allow divorced parents the option of joint child custody, at the parliament in Tokyo Friday, May 17, 2024. The revision, the first to custody rights in nearly 80 years, is to take effect by 2026. TOKYO — Japan’s parliament on Friday passed a revision to the country’s civil code that will allow divorced parents the option of joint child custody, a change that brings the nation in line with many other countries.
Under the current law, child custody is granted to only one divorced parent, almost always the mother. The revision requires the sharing of child rearing costs by the parent who is not the main custodian. Currently, most divorced mothers, who often are part-time workers with low incomes, do not receive financial support from their former husbands.Child migration through Panama’s dangerous Darien Gap is up 40%, UN report saysIn cases in which domestic violence or abuse by either parent is suspected, the other person will have sole custody, according to the revision.
The concerns prompted some modifications to the legislation during parliamentary debate to require authorities to make sure the custody decision was not one-sided.