To look at the resolution of current cases of International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) and the implementation of the ratified Hague Abduction Convention;
To learn about family law, divorce and child custody law in the United States, particularly as it pertains to joint custody, including visitation rights and the enforcement of court decisions, and how that might be incorporated into the Japanese legal system;
To enhance the participants’ understanding of mediation and how authorities utilize it both informally and formally in the United States;
To explore services available to victims of domestic violence and child abuse and to enhance their understanding of U.S.-style social services and the support given to any victims of domestic violence and child abuse; and
To illustrate the diversity of needs of society in regards to social services and non-profit organizations and the role that social services play in civil society.
