面会交流「憲法保障せず」確定　別居親の上告退け―最高裁

　離婚などで子どもと別居している親１４人が、子との面会交流の実現を保障する制度が未整備のため精神的苦痛を受けたとして、国に損害賠償を求めた訴訟で、最高裁第２小法廷（菅野博之裁判長）は７日付で原告側の上告を退ける決定をした。「面会交流の権利は憲法上保障されているとは言えない」と判断し、原告側敗訴とした一、二審判決が確定した。
　面会交流は民法で、父母が離婚する際に協議で定め、それができない場合は家庭裁判所が定めると規定。取り決めに反して同居する親が拒否するなど実現しないケースも多く、法制審議会（法相の諮問機関）は面会交流をどう確保するかなどを検討している。（2021/07/08-17:34）

Japan's Supreme Court has upheld lower court rulings that dismissed plaintiffs' challenge against the lack of a system to ensure opportunities for them to meet with their children living separately after divorce.
   The appeal filed by the plaintiffs was rejected by the top court's Second Petty Bench on Wednesday, which concluded that "it cannot be said that the Constitution guarantees their visitation rights."
   The 14 plaintiffs, who live separately with their children due to divorce and other reasons, had sued the government, seeking damages for mental suffering caused by the lack of such a system.
   The Civil Code stipulates that such opportunities should be arranged by fathers and mothers when they divorce, and that if this is not possible, a family court will make arrangements.
   But there are many cases in which visitation is not achieved, such as when a parent living with a child refuses to live up to arrangements.