Efforts on the “Basic Plan on Measures against
Child Sexual Exploitation”
From April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020

July 10, 2020

Liaison Conference of the Relevant Ministries and Agencies concerning Measuresagainst Child Sexual Exploitation

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Table of Contents
1. Enhancement of public awareness for the eradication of child sexual exploitation,
development of social awareness, and strengthening of collaboration with international society
7(i) Convening of a public-private conference for the promotion of social awareness ...............7(ii) Promotion of public relations and public awareness-raising activities toward the generalpublic for the prevention of victimization through child prostitution and child pornography
and for the prevention of the distribution of and access to images of child pornography on theinternet .............................................................................................................................................7(iii) Awareness-raising of overseas travelers .................................................................................9(iv) Transmission of information about government efforts via the website .............................9(v) Implementation of domestic public relations regarding the Convention on the Rights of theChild and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Child on the sale ofchildren, etc. ..................................................................................................................................10(vi) Implementation of public relations and awareness-raising activities for the eradication of
trafficking in persons ....................................................................................................................10(vii) Implementation of training for those that are engaged in the education and awarenessraising of young people ................................................................................................................. 11(viii) Consideration for crime victims whose damage tends to be hidden ................................12(ix) Improvement of access to activity subsidies by private organizations ..............................13(x) Assistance for the awareness-raising activities of private organizations for the protectionof children ......................................................................................................................................13(xi) Promotion of comprehensive measures to prevent victimization based on the Act on
Development of Internet Environment for Young People, etc...................................................14(xii) Efforts in “Campaign for Eliminating Violence against Women” ....................................15(xiii) Efforts during “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile
Damage” ........................................................................................................................................15(xiv) Efforts during “Child Abuse Prevention Month” .............................................................16(xv) Strengthening collaboration with foreign investigative authorities and international
mutual legal assistance .................................................................................................................16(xvi) International dissemination of information on the Basic Plan on Measures against Child
Sexual Exploitation .......................................................................................................................17(xvii) Strengthening of international collaboration and the promotion of information
dissemination to international society through participation in international efforts ............172

(xviii) Participation in “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation
Online” ...........................................................................................................................................18(xix) Holding of seminars concerning measures against child sexual exploitation .................18(xx) Building of the platform for promoting international collaboration for the eradication ofhuman trafficking cases................................................................................................................19(xxi) Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Childon the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (hereinafter referred to as“the Protocol”) and release of the information on domestic actions ........................................19
2. Support for children and families to ensure the sound growth of children without
victimization by sexual exploitation ................................................................................................21(i) Promotion of “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” under collaboration between the
public and private sectors ............................................................................................................21(ii) Implementation of awareness-raising activities for safe and secure internet use by children........................................................................................................................................................22(iii) Assistance for the establishment of a cooperative structure at the local level for the safe
and secure use of the internet by young people ..........................................................................24(iv) Assistance in publicity and awareness-raising activities at the local and family level for theproper use of the internet by children .........................................................................................24(v) Enhancement of information morals education at schools ..................................................25(vi) Development and publication of internet literacy indicators (ILAS) for the safe use of theinternet by young people ..............................................................................................................25(vii) Surveys for cleaning up harmful environments surrounding juveniles ...........................26(viii) Promotion of street guidance activities ..............................................................................26(ix) Promotion of the activities of juvenile guidance commissioners for the sound developmentof juveniles .....................................................................................................................................27(x) Support for delinquent juveniles, etc., at Juvenile Assessment Centers .............................27(xi) Strengthening of assistance in cybercrime prevention volunteer activities .......................27(xii) Support for single-parent families .......................................................................................28(xiii) Employment support for parents in single-parent families ..............................................29(xiv) Employment support for youths .........................................................................................30(xv) Support for poor persons ......................................................................................................30
3. Promotion of measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of victimization that focuses ontools used for child sexual exploitation ...........................................................................................31(i) Assistance in measures against such tools as taken by private organizations to protect
children ..........................................................................................................................................31
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(ii) Assistance in voluntary efforts by mobile carries, third-party organizations, etc., topromote the use of filtering services ............................................................................................31(iii) Assistance for the operation of the Guidelines on Measures for Illegal Information on theInternet and Model Contract Articles on Measures for Illegal/Harmful Information ...........32(iv) Assistance in consultation services concerning illegal/harmful information on the internet........................................................................................................................................................32(v) Promotion of various measures toward improvement in the effectiveness of blocking ....33(vi) Measures for the business operators of online dating sites and community sites .............34(vii) Promotion of measures to prevent the distribution of and access to images of childpornography ..................................................................................................................................34(viii) Operation of the Internet Hotline Center ..........................................................................35(ix) Elimination of criminal organizations and illegal adult entertainment establishments inentertainment/amusement areas by nurturing an atmosphere encouraging crime prevention
volunteer activities ........................................................................................................................35
4. Prompt protection of child victims and the promotion of appropriate support ......................37(i) Creation of a comfortable environment for children and their parents/guardians for
consultations ..................................................................................................................................37(ii) Reponses considering convenience for the person undergoing a consultation ..................38(iii) Appropriate handling of children’s rights issues ................................................................39(iv) Dissemination of the anonymous reporting program for the creation of a secure society........................................................................................................................................................39(v) Promotion of guidance for children involved in businesses focused on children as sexual
objects ............................................................................................................................................39(vi) Promotion of cyber guidance.................................................................................................40(vii) Support, etc., for children at Child Guidance Centers and local governments ...............40(viii) Improvement of convenience for victims of sexual crimes in obtaining information ....41(ix) Enhancement of support for victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence.......................42(x) Promotion of the protection of trafficking victims ...............................................................42(xi) Implementation of continuous support for child victims ....................................................43(xii) Protection and support for women in need of protection under the women’s protection
project ............................................................................................................................................43(xiii) Provision of support at child welfare facilities ..................................................................44(xiv) Support provided by the Japan Legal Support Center.....................................................45(xv) Verification of measures relating to the protection of children who have suffered physicalor mental damage ..........................................................................................................................46
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(xvi) Implementation of research study on child victims...........................................................46(xvii)Implementation of surveys on the actual situations of violent victimization, etc. ..........47(xviii) Consideration of a model of counseling and support system .........................................47
5. Strengthening of crackdowns in line with the situation of victimization and rehabilitation of
offenders ............................................................................................................................................48(i) Assistance in the establishment of ordinances prohibiting businesses focused on children as
sexual objects .................................................................................................................................48(ii) Surveys contributing to consideration of the regulations regarding child pornography..48(iii) Strengthening of crackdowns on and strict punishment for crimes involving child sexual
exploitation ....................................................................................................................................49(iv) Grasping of the actual state of adult entertainment businesses and the promotion of
crackdowns on adult entertainment-related crimes ..................................................................50(v) Pursuit of criminal charges against vicious business operators ..........................................50(vi) Promotion of the activities of the Juvenile and Woman Aegis Team .................................51(vii) Strengthening of collaboration among related organizations in efforts to implement
interviews with consideration of children’s psychological stress ..............................................51(viii) Protection of child victims of crimes in the process of investigations/public trials ........52(ix) Implementation of guidance on prevention of repeat sexual offenses in penal institutions........................................................................................................................................................52(x) Implementation of guidance to prevent sexual delinquency at juvenile training schools .53(xi) Implementation of a sexual offender treatment program at probation offices .................53(xii) Operation of a system for measures to prevent repeat violent sexual crimes againstchildren by released prisoners .....................................................................................................54
6. Strengthening of the foundation for realizing a society where children will never become
victims of sexual exploitation ...........................................................................................................55(i) Awareness-raising of the child welfare-related officials that are likely to have contact withlatent child victims of sexual exploitation ...................................................................................55(ii) Enhancement of the response capacity of school officials for the early detection of childvictims and the promotion of support activities .........................................................................55(iii) Implementation of training concerning care for sexually victimized children .................56(iv) Strengthening of the support systems of the Japan Legal Support Center.......................56(v) Implementation of training for the promotion of information education ..........................56(vi) Enhancement of investigative capacity for dealing with child sexual exploitation crimes........................................................................................................................................................57(vii) Dissemination of questioning techniques with consideration of the psychological effect on
5child victims ...................................................................................................................................57(viii) Enrichment of the contents of training for officials in charge of supporting child victims........................................................................................................................................................57(ix) Implementation of training, etc., for public prosecutors ....................................................58(x) Promotion of the deployment of school counselors, etc., for the early detection of childvictims and for support activities at school.................................................................................58(xi) Establishment of a counselling system for continuous support for child victims .............58(xii) Strengthening of the structure and specialization of Child Guidance Centers ...............59(xiii) Strengthening of the system to support women in need of protection under the women’s
protection project ..........................................................................................................................596

1. Enhancement of public awareness for the eradication of child sexual exploitation,
development of social awareness, and strengthening of collaboration with internationalsociety(i) Convening of a public-private conference for the promotion of social awareness
A conference consisting of related ministries and agencies, educational bodies, medical bodies,business bodies, and NPOs, etc., shall be convened in order to promote social awareness regarding theeradication of child sexual exploitation under cooperation between the public and private sectors and,based on an appropriate division of roles between the public and private sectors through the active
sharing of information and know-how, effective efforts shall be promoted. (National Police Agency,
Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry ofJustice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
The Conference for Promotion of Measures on Eradication of Child Sexual Exploitation was heldon April 25, 2019. Private organizations made presentations on their activities, and relevant
ministries and agencies reported the status of their activities during FY2018. A forum forfacilitating the exchange of opinion was also held. (National Police Agency: NPA)(ii) Promotion of public relations and public awareness-raising activities toward the generalpublic for the prevention of victimization through child prostitution and child pornography
and for the prevention of the distribution of and access to images of child pornography on
the internet
Based on the analysis results of the situation of child victimization through child prostitution andchild pornography, public relations and public awareness-raising activities for the prevention of
victimization through child prostitution and child pornography shall be promoted on the website or
through government public relations and efforts shall be made to make it widely known that childprostitution and child pornography constitute a serious violation of the human rights of children. Also,in order to prevent “self-generated” crime (meaning a child pornography crime in which children are
deceived or threatened to generate their own sexually explicit material and send the material by e-mailor other means; the same shall apply hereinafter), public relations and awareness-raising activities
toward schools, local communities, and families shall be promoted on such occasions as parent
briefing sessions, juvenile delinquency prevention classes, and lectures on cybersecurity, etc.
In addition, as part of efforts to further facilitate the elimination of child pornography on the internet,
the public and private sector shall jointly promote wide-ranging public relations and awareness-raising
activities toward the general public regarding government efforts to prevent the distribution of and* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)7

access to images of child sexual exploitation and shall encourage the reporting of illegal information
relating to child pornography to relevant organizations on various occasions, such as during juvenile
delinquency prevention classes and lectures on cybersecurity. (National Police Agency, Cabinet
Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry)

Information about anonymous reporting system was added to the public relations and awarenessraising posters that were produced (in conjunction with the Japan Committee for UNICEF and the
ECPAT) to inform the general public that crimes of child sexual exploitation, such as childprostitution and the production of child pornography, are heinous crimes violating the humanrights of children. The posters were posted at tobacco shops across the country with the support
of a private organization (National Federation of Tobacco Retail Cooperative Associations).
(NPA)
A DVD featuring methods of child sexual exploitation using smartphones including “selfgenerated” crime and preventive measures was produced in cooperation with the Japan Police
Support Association and distributed to public libraries and prefectural police departments, as wellas to other outlets. (NPA)
The “Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation” page of the NPA website was totally renewedin an effort to effectively disseminate information on child sexual exploitation. (NPA)
During the “Victimization Prevention Month for Forced Appearance in Pornographic Materials
and ‘JK Business’” (April 2019) and other occasions, prefectural police departments implemented
public relations and public awareness-raising activities, such as campaigns in commercial
establishments and around train stations. (Between January and December 2019, 3,446 public
relations and awareness-raising campaigns were conducted in commercial establishments andaround train stations.) (NPA)
In January 2020, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
and NPA jointly produced a leaflet “There Is a Lot of Danger on the Internet—Are You Really
Safe?” featuring specific criminal incidents and modus operandi and published on the MEXT and
NPA websites. In addition, a notice was issued to request the distribution of the leaflets to children
and their parents/guardians through the boards of education, etc. Leaflets were also distributed tochildren and students in juvenile delinquency prevention classes at prefectural police departments.
(MEXT and NPA)
In 2019, prefectural police departments implemented approximately 30,000 awareness-raising
campaign activities in juvenile delinquency prevention classes, parent/guardian briefing sessions,and other occasions in order to prevent the criminal victimization of children through the use of* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)8the internet. (NPA)
July 2019 was designated as the “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency andJuvenile Damage,” and public relations and awareness-raising activities were conducted incooperation with public governments, relevant organizations, etc., focusing on the “prevention ofchild sexual exploitation in connection with the use of the internet” as the highest-priority issue.
The “Public Symposium for Preventing Youth Crime and Victimization” was held on the topic of“To Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation in Connection with the Use of Internet—What Can
We Do Now?” and a keynote talk and panel discussion were organized. The symposium wasattended by approximately 200 persons (Cabinet Office: CAO)
In conjunction with PTAs, participatory study symposia (“Net Moral Caravan”) were held forparents/guardians in four locations across Japan. The aim of the symposia was to widely informthe public about topics such as internet manners, sexual exploitation, and other troubles caused by
the internet and the importance of family rules on internet use. (MEXT)(iii) Awareness-raising of overseas travelers
Public awareness is promoted through the Overseas Security Answer Book, a pamphlet published by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and distributed to Japanese overseas travelers, addressing “prostitution
is listed among the cases where Japanese nationals could become criminals. In the section “Case study:
Trouble During Travel and Solutions,” the Book supplements that prostitution is prohibited in many
countries and constitutes a felony crime in some countries and that child prostitution or the possessionof child pornography is a crime penalized under the laws of Japan even if committed abroad. (Ministryof Foreign Affairs)
In the 2020 edition of the Overseas Security Answer Book, the government warned Japanese
travelers against involvement with child sexual exploitation. Public relations and awarenessraising on this issue was conducted through the distribution of the book via passport centers andtravel agencies and the dissemination of information to overseas travelers at safety seminars forcorporations, schools, and organizations. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs: MOFA)(iv) Transmission of information about government efforts via the website
A section for measures against child sexual exploitation has been created on the website of National
Police Agency through which information about government efforts for measures against child sexual
exploitation shall be provided. (National Police Agency)
In the section for measures against child sexual exploitation on the NPA website, information on
the state of arrests and victimization related to child pornography, measures to prevent the* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

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exploitation, government efforts, the Conference for Promotion of Measures on Eradication ofChild Sexual Exploitation, and other relevant topics was posted. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Renewal of the “Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation” page on the
NPA website (NPA)(v) Implementation of domestic public relations regarding the Convention on the Rights of theChild and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Child on the sale ofchildren, etc.
On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, section for the following have been created: theConvention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Childon the sale of children, etc., (which refers to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; the same shall apply
hereinafter), the government’s report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the concluding
observations issued by the committee in response to said government’s report, and the electronic
version of the leaflet of the convention, thereby promoting domestic public relations. (Ministry ofForeign Affairs)
As a public relations effort for Japanese citizens, a section on the Convention on the Rights of theChild has been created on the MOFA website, with the posting of the electronic versions of theConvention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child on the sale of children, etc., the government’s reports to the Committee on the Rights of
the Child, the concluding observations issued by the committee in response to said government’s
report, as well as a leaflet on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
When the Committee on the Rights of the Child published its “Guidelines regarding theimplementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the saleof children, child prostitution and child pornography” on the website of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in September 2019, the guidelines andthe government’s comments were posted on the MOFA website. (MOFA)(vi) Implementation of public relations and awareness-raising activities for the eradication of
trafficking in persons
Creating posters and leaflets of measures against trafficking in persons with the aim to appeal to thedemand-side of sexual exploitation and raise public awareness on this issue and distributing these to
local governments, airports and marine ports, universities and technical colleges, the Japan
Association of Travel Agents, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other relatedorganizations and bodies. (Cabinet Office, Cabinet Secretariat, National Police Agency, Ministry of* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

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Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Posters and leaflets for raising-awareness of anti-trafficking measures were created with the aim
to appeal to the offense (demand) side of sexual exploitation and to raise public awareness on theissue. These materials were distributed to local governments, airports and seaports, universities
and technical colleges, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, IOM, and other organizations andgroups. (CAO)
Leaflets for reporting human trafficking victimization were created, and approximately 300,000
copies were distributed to relevant ministries and agencies, prefectural police departments,
embassies, the Organization for Technical Intern Training, NGOs, international airports, among
others, and placed at locations where victims can easily find them. In addition, the leaflet was
uploaded to the NPA website. (NPA)(vii) Implementation of training for those that are engaged in the education and awarenessraising of young people
Providing awareness-raising and prevention trainings on violence against women for people whohave opportunities to educate young people with aim to enhance educational and learning activities
for the youth. (Cabinet Office and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Training was implemented for:・ persons in leadership positions with the opportunities to educate and raise awareness of young
people・ administrative officers of local governments responsible for raising awareness and preventionof violence against women among young people
・ private organizations active in raising awareness and prevention of violence against womenamong young people
The aim of the training was to teach these groups the current state of violence against womenamong young people, and the effective methods for prevention and education, among others.
(Three training sessions were organized, attended by approximately 230 persons.) (CAO)
In the training program for health education teachers, exercise lessons, etc. were provided
concerning the basic idea of health consultation/health guidance, the method for identifying
mental and physical health problems and their background, the content of health guidance, and abasic way to deal with children and their parents/guardians. (The trainings were attended byapproximately 230 persons). (MEXT)
Based on the “Actions for proceeding measures on the issues of so-called forced appearances in* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

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pornographic materials and ‘JK Business’” (decided on May 19, 2017, by the Relevant
Government Authorities’ Strategic Planning Conference on the Issues of So-called Forced
Appearances in Pornographic Materials and ‘JK Business’), in April 2019, in cooperation with
relevant ministries such as NPA, an awareness-raising material containing information on the
consultation counter, specific victimization cases and other relevant information was preparedand distributed to high schools in Tokyo and Osaka, universities and the boards of education
nationwide, among others. (MEXT)(viii) Consideration for crime victims whose damage tends to be hidden
To make people understand reality of victims of sexual crimes and victimized children whose damage
tends to be hidden by symposiums occasionally, and heighten awareness and motivation to support
victims by the whole society. (National Police Agency, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Efforts were continued to prevent sexual crimes from being hidden by creating a leaflet providing
information on the consultation counter for sexual exploitation and the kinds of support available,
which is posted on the NPA website, so that prompt protection and appropriate support can beprovided to child victims of sexual crimes. Prefectural police departments also promoted public
relations and awareness-raising activities to encourage child victims and their parents/guardians
to report victimization by posting information on the consultation counter on its website and by
making use of various opportunities such as juvenile delinquency prevention classes held incooperation with schools. (NPA)
In conjunction with private victim support groups and institutions involved in crime victim
support efforts, the “National Forum on Support for Crime Victims 2019” was held in October, asa public relations and awareness-raising effort to expand the breadth of support for victims byproviding information such as the circumstances of crime victims, including sexual crime victims,
and increasing the understanding of the need for support. The theme for the forum in FY2019 was“victim support within the community.” The forum was attended by approximately 420 persons.
(NPA)
In cooperation with local governments, awareness-raising activities were conducted during the“Crime Victims Week” (from November 25 to December 1 every year) so that support andconsideration are provided to crime victims, including sexual crime victims. In FY2019, theCentral Meeting for the “Crime Victims Week” was held in Tokyo, and regional meetings were
held in cooperation with local governments in Tochigi and Toyama Prefectures. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Holding of “Public Symposium for Preventing Youth Crime and* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

12Victimization” (CAO)(ix) Improvement of access to activity subsidies by private organizations
Efforts shall be made to improve access by researchers, volunteer groups, etc., (engaging in researchstudies related to measures against child sexual exploitation or support activities for victims) to
information regarding activity subsidy projects by summarizing information about the subsidy projectsof private organizations and setting up links to the websites that provide such information in the sectionof measures against child sexual exploitation on the website of the National Police Agency. (National
Police Agency)
Access to information on activity subsidy projects was further improved for researchers andvolunteer groups, etc. (engaging in research studies related to measures against child sexual
exploitation or support activities for victims) by posting a link to the Japan Foundation Center
website in the section for measures against child sexual exploitation on the NPA website. The
Foundation’s website summarizes the information on the subsidy projects of private organizations.
(NPA)(x) Assistance for the awareness-raising activities of private organizations for the protection ofchildrenIn order to prevent children from being involved in crimes through the internet, the government will
provide assistance for the continuous implementation of awareness-raising activities to prevent thevictimization of children by participating in awareness-raising activities conducted by privateorganizations, such as the Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association, for the purpose of encouraging
the use of filtering services, on occasions to consider such activities, and providing necessary
information and advice. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry)
We contributed to the development of internet usage environments for young people byparticipating in the awareness-raising activities and evaluation meetings organized by the Japan
Internet Safety Promotion Association. Regarding the High School Student ICT Conference weprovided full support; the Regional Bureaus of Telecommunications provided support formeetings and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) organized the final
report meeting at the ministry (December 5, 2019). Furthermore, we participated the Japan
Internet Safety Promotion Association’s “Review Meeting on Internet Environment Development”
and contributed to the discussions on improving the internet usage environment for young people.
(MIC)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)13

Aiming to raise awareness on the safe children’s internet usage, MIC and MEXT cooperated with
communications-related corporations and organizations and others to organize the “e-Net
Caravan,” which holds seminars mainly at schools nationwide for students, he student’s guardians,
and teachers. In FY2019, 2,660 seminars were organized, attended by approximately 520,000
people. In addition, since FY2016, seminars on filtering services for smartphone have been newly
organized for guardians and educators in order to enhance their understanding of filtering services.
MIC contributed to the expansion of these seminars through the participation of Regional Bureausof Telecommunications staffs as lecturers. (MIC and MEXT)(xi) Promotion of comprehensive measures to prevent victimization based on the Act on
Establishment of Enhanced Environment for Youth’s Safe and Secure Internet Use, etc.
In light of the ongoing occurrence of cases where children are victimized by sexual exploitation suchas child pornography crimes or are involved in trouble via the use of the internet, measures shall betaken pursuant to the Act on Establishment of Enhanced Environment for Youth’s Safe and SecureInternet Use (Act No. 79 of 2008) and (Third) Basic Plan on Measures for Providing Safe and SecureInternet Use for Young People (July 30, 2015 Decision of the Headquarters for the Promotion of
Development and Support for Children and Young People) so as to reduce opportunities wherechildren access illegal/harmful information as much as possible. In addition, related
ministries/agencies and related business operators shall be united to promote publicity and awarenessraising activities on proper internet use by children toward children and their parents/guardians, etc.,
along with research studies, and other measures, comprehensively. (Cabinet Office, National Police
Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Study Group on Development of Youth Internet Environment was held four times in total toconduct a study on the establishment of an environment for safe and secure internet use by young
people. (CAO)
Publicized the 2021 updated version of the “Case Study of the Internet Trouble”, whichsummarizes troubles arising from the internet and methods to prevent them, for home and school
usage. (MIC)
In order to minimize the chance of children browsing illegal/harmful contents as much as possible,
prefectural police departments confirmed the use of internet filters with child victims of sexual
exploitation and their parents/guardians. In cases where filters are not used, use of filters is
promoted by explaining its effectiveness and importance, and how to set up filters. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Holding of lectures on juvenile delinquency prevention classes, etc. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Implementation of “Net Moral Caravan” (MEXT)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

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Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Joint production of a leaflet by NPA and MEXT (NPA and MEXT)
Repeat mention 1 - (x): Implementation of “e-Net Caravan” (MIC and MEXT)(xii) Efforts in “Campaign for Eliminating Violence against Women”
During the annual Campaign for Eliminating Violence against Women (from November 12 to 25,
which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), public relations andawareness-raising activities are developed toward eliminating violence against women including childsexual exploitation in collaboration with local governments, women’s groups and other relevantorganizations. (Cabinet Office and other related bodies)
During the “Campaign for Eliminating Violence against Women” from November 12 to 25, 2019,
we worked to raise social consciousness regarding violence against women and to enhance theawareness-raising educational efforts on the importance of women’s human rights. This was
conducted in cooperation and conjunction with local governments, women’s organizations, andother groups. In FY2019, based on the purple ribbon, the symbol of rooting out violence against
women, Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree were lit up purple, as well as other institutions
nationwide. In addition, approximately 100,000 posters and leaflets featuring information on therelationship between spousal violence and child abuse and the need for cooperation towardeliminating violence against women were produced and distributed to local governments,
women’s groups, and private companies such as Tokyo Metro. (CAO)
A W (double) Ribbon Badge, which is composed of a purple ribbon, a symbol of spousal violence
prevention, and an orange ribbon, a symbol of child abuse prevention, was created. All membersof the Cabinet were called on to wear the badge on the first day of the campaign. (CAO)(xiii) Efforts during “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile
Damage”
During the “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Damage”
observed every July and the “Children and Young People’s Development Support Month” observed
every November, the prevention of crime victimization detrimental to the well-being of young people
shall be given high priority, and public relations and awareness-raising activities shall be promoted incollaboration and cooperation with related organizations and bodies and local residents to enhancepeople’s understanding about measures against child sexual exploitation. (Cabinet Office, National
Police Agency, and other related bodies)
During the “Children and Young People’s Development Support Month” in November 2019,
promotion of the efforts to protect children from crime and harmful environments was made a* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

15

priority item, and various activities and projects were implemented by relevant ministries, local
governments, and other relevant organizations. In addition, at the training conference organizedby the CAO for people involved in child and youth development support in local communities,“sexual violence toward young people and support for victims” was set as one of the themes ofthe lecture meeting, and lectures were given by experts. (CAO)
Approximately 60,000 posters were created to promote the “National Month for the Prevention ofJuvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Damage” and distributed to relevant ministries, prefectures,
prefectural police departments, and relevant organizations, with requests to post. In addition, themanagement companies of Pro Baseball and J-League, as well as the companies operatingbaseball and soccer stadiums, were asked to cooperate in promoting the national month by using
stadium screens and announcements during official games. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Holding of “Public Symposium for Preventing Youth Crime andVictimization” (CAO)(xiv) Efforts during “Child Abuse Prevention Month”
During “Child Abuse Prevention Month” every November, which is designated based on the ideathat the life, rights, and future of children should be protected by all of society, public relations andawareness-raising activities shall be promoted jointly with local governments and related bodies, so
as to raise social awareness toward the issue of child abuse, including sexual abuse. (Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare, and other related bodies)
In order to raise social interest in the problem of child abuse, including sexual abuse, the “National
Forum for Promoting the Prevention of Child Abuse in Tottori” was held on November 16 and 17,
in conjunction with the November 2019 “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” In coordination andcooperation with local governments, relevant organizations, and others, we conducted public
relations and awareness-raising efforts, such as creating and distributing posters for public
relations and awareness-raising (110,000 posters in B2-format and 300,000 in A3-format) and 2
million leaflets. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: MHLW)(xv) Strengthening collaboration with foreign investigative authorities and international mutual
legal assistanceFor crimes of child sexual exploitation such as child prostitution and child pornography crimes
committed abroad by Japanese nationals or such crimes committed in Japan that were detected byreports from abroad, arrests should be actively made in collaboration with overseas investigative
authorities. (National Police Agency)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)16

NPA participated in international conferences, such as the ICPO Specialist Group Meetings,
worked to strengthen the relationships with overseas investigative authorities, and built an
enabling system for smooth mutual legal assistance. Based on the information provided byoverseas investigative authorities obtained as a result of the above work, the police have actively
drove its investigations forward. (NPA)
In carrying out investigations and trials of child sexual exploitation cases such as childprostitution and child pornography, when necessary, a mutual legal assistance request shall bemade to foreign countries in accordance with international comity or relevant international
agreements such as mutual legal assistance treaties, so as to realize proper punishment. Whena mutual legal assistance request is made to Japan by foreign authorities, Japan earnestly
provides assistance in accordance with the relevant domestic laws, including the Act on
International Assistance in Investigation and Other Related Matters (Act No. 69 of 1980),
thereby strengthening international cooperation on a global scale. (Ministry of Justice andMinistry of Foreign Affairs)
In criminal cases of child sexual exploitation, such as child prostitution and child pornography,
we have actively undertaken mutual legal assistance upon requests by foreign authorities.
(Ministry of Justice: MOJ)
(xvi) International dissemination of information on the Basic Plan on Measures against Child
Sexual Exploitation
By translating the Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation into English andutilizing it for the reports submitted to international organizations and for various international
meetings, efforts shall be made to gain better understanding from international society on detailed
measures against child sexual exploitation taken in Japan and the government’s commitment.
(National Police Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The implementation status of the Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation wastranslated into English, posted on the NPA website (in Japanese and English), and distributed toembassies in Tokyo. The implementation status was also disseminated at international conferences
and forums for exchange of opinions. (NPA)(xvii) Strengthening of international collaboration and the promotion of information
dissemination to international society through participation in international efforts
Through active participation in the activities of G7 Rome/Lyon Group and the ICPO, international* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)17

collaboration shall be strengthened by facilitating information exchange with countries around theworld, and thus the dissemination of information on our efforts shall be promoted. (National Police
Agency, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
NPA participated in the 37th Meeting of the Interpol Specialists Group on Crimes Against
Children, held by ICPO General Secretariat in November 2019, and exchanged information withforeign investigative authorities to strengthen international cooperation. We also disseminatedinformation on Japan’s efforts at the meeting. (NPA)
Regarding the ICPO International Child Sexual Exploitation Database terminal instituted in
March 2011, NPA advanced information sharing among the participating countries. (NPA)(xviii) Participation in “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation
Online”
Through participation in “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online,”
which is a new framework for international collaboration under which governments and private
businesses around the world cooperate to take measures against child sexual exploitation on theinternet, international collaboration shall be strengthened by facilitating information exchange withcountries around the world, and information dissemination shall be actively promoted concerning
public-private joint efforts implemented in Japan so as to gain better understanding from internationalsociety. (National Police Agency, Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry)
As an active member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation
Online, with the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission as the cabinet minister incharge, Japan strengthened international cooperation and furthered the sharing of information withother countries through, among other things, participating in the Global Summit to Tackle Online
Child Sexual Exploitation held at the African Union Headquarters (Ethiopia) in December 2019.
(NPA)(xix) Holding of seminars concerning measures against child sexual exploitation
Seminars shall be held to disseminate information on measures against child sexual exploitation taken
in Japan under which the public and private sectors collaborate for the eradication of child sexual
exploitation and the protection of child victims, in order to gain better understanding of Japan’s efforts
from the general public and international society. (National Police Agency)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)18

NPA organized the 4th Specialist Group Meeting on Child Sexual Exploitation in January 2020 tointroduce the activities of private groups and the efforts of prefectural police departments for theprevention of child sexual exploitation. About 220 representatives from relevant ministries andagencies, foreign institutions, private groups, and others attended the meeting. (NPA)(xx) Building of the platform for promoting international collaboration for the eradication ofhuman trafficking cases
In order to promote the arrest of brokers of trafficking in persons in Japan and abroad and to prompt
the protection of victims, Contact Point Meeting with related administrative bodies, foreign embassies
in Tokyo, international organizations, NGO, etc., shall be held to share information and have talks
aimed at facilitating the smooth handling of such crimes. (National Police Agency)
The 16th Contact Point Meeting was held in July 2019, attended by 191 participants from relevant
government institutions, six foreign embassies in Tokyo, international organizations, and 19
NGOs, among others. At the meeting, we carried out discussions toward information sharing andsmooth processing of cases to advance swift protection of victims and arrests of foreign anddomestic brokers involved in human trafficking. (NPA)(xxi) Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on
the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (hereinafter referred to as“the Protocol”) and release of the information on domestic actions
Japan will endeavor to ensure the implementation of the Protocol in line with the purport of theconcluding observations which were issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (“CRC”) in
response to Japan’s national report submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol and，
as necessary, taking into consideration the recommendations in the report of the Special Rapporteuron the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Japan will also proactively release
the information on Japan’s actions through the above-mentioned national report to the CRC as well asother channels. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Office, National Police
Agency, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, andMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
The first meeting of the Round table to End Violence Against Children was held in July 2019 withthe attendance of relevant participants including from civil society, experts, organizations, relevant
ministries and agencies to discuss the basic idea for the formulation of a national action plan toend violence against children as a Pathfinding Country of the Global Partnership to End Violence* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

19

Against Children (GPeVAC) (a country committed to end violence against children in its own
country). (MOFA)
Based on the directive “About Strengthening the Measures on the Child Sexual Exploitation”(April 25, 2017 NPA Bulletin No. 10, etc.), prefectural police departments were instructed atvarious meetings to thoroughly crackdown on heinous child prostitution and child pornography
crimes, to provide appropriate support for child victims, and to conduct public relations andawareness-raising activities to prevent victimization. (NPA)
Information regarding Japan’s efforts was actively disseminated to the international community,
for example, by posting the English versions of the Basic Plan on Measures Against Child Sexual
Exploitation and its implementation status, and other efforts in English to the NPA website. (NPA)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)20

2. Support for children and families to ensure the sound growth of children without
victimization by sexual exploitation(i) Promotion of “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” under collaboration between the public
and private sectors
In collaboration and cooperation with local governments, related business operators, schools, andcommunity groups, etc., promotions and awareness-raising activities targeting children and theirparents shall be conducted to encourage the use of filtering and rulemaking at home and to enhance
the internet literacy, so that young people can use internet connection devices such as smartphones
safely and securely, particularly intensively at the beginning of the new school year in spring (in Japan)
when many children may carry smartphones, etc., for the first time. (Cabinet Office, Cabinet
Secretariat, National Police Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry ofJustice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labourand Welfare, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
From February to May 2020, various efforts were made to: promote the use of internet filters andother parental control tools; actively inform the public of filter customization features; encourage
the use of internet filters by parents/guardians of young children; and raise public awarenesstoward safe behavior in using SNS. (CAO)
Spring Safety Net Campaign with Chain of Moves in New Semester” was implemented startingfrom February 2020 in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies and private operators.
Various efforts were carried out intensively to promote the use of internet filters and to raiseinternet literacy. (MIC)
As a part of the “Spring Safety Net/New Term Action” initiative, which promotes efforts such asawareness-raising activities focusing on promoting the use of internet filters and raising internet
literacy, notices were sent out on January 17 to the boards of education and others, asking to carryout educational and awareness-raising activities on safe and secure use of smartphones and thelikes at schools and in local areas during the initiative from February to May. (MEXT)
In January 2020, in order to prevent juvenile delinquency and crime victimization at the beginningof the new school year, NPA distributed awareness-raising leaflets to prefectural police
departments and promoted implementation of various measures for juveniles at the beginning of
the new school year. The leaflet is under the joint names of related ministries and agencies andare intended for parents/guardians. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Creation of a joint leaflet by the NPA and MEXT (MEXT and NPA)

* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)21

(ii) Implementation of awareness-raising activities for safe and secure internet use by children
In order to ensure safe and secure internet use by young people, an awareness-raising course
called “e-Net Caravan” is provided to children as well as their parents/guardians and teachers,
who are supposed to protect, educate, and guide children, in collaboration with
telecommunication-related organizations, and, starting from September 2016, an advanced
course for parents/guardians and teachers, called “e-Net Caravan plus,” is also being provided
with a view toward raising awareness for the importance of filtering and ensuring that everyone
knows how to use filtering services. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, andMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Repeat mention 1 - (x): Implementation of “e-Net Caravan” (MIC and MEXT)With the cooperation of the police and in collaboration with NPOs nationwide, the Internet
Safety Class for young people, their parents/guardians, and teachers shall be held so as to raiseawareness on information security and countermeasures against illegal/harmful information,
including filtering services. The awareness-raising materials used in the class and the contentsof the class shall be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the internet use environment
and the situation surrounding child pornography. (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)In order to spread information and raise awareness of information morality and information
security in the use of the internet, the Internet Safety Class was held nationwide in cooperation
with education-related institutions, private groups, and prefectural police departments around thecountry. In the “general class” for internet users including high school, junior high school, andelementary school students and their parents/guardians, attendees learned about basic knowledgeof information security and internet literacy and were able to consider these issues by themselves.
In addition, with the aim of encouraging secondary awareness-raising, mainly among schools,
local governments, and local relevant corporations, the information morality and security
education was provided to persons involved in education and others that are interested in
becoming instructors of such classes. A class for “persons involved in education” was also heldwith the hope that the attendees will make use of what they learned in their classes and in theiractivities at their schools and communities. (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: METI)
Awareness-raising activities using the booklet covering the issue of revenge pornography
victimization and child pornography victimization through community sites and SNS shall be* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

22promoted. (Ministry of Justice)With the goal to stop violations of children’s human rights on the internet, we gave out anawareness-raising booklet for junior high and high school students and their parents/guardiansand distributed an awareness-raising video via the internet. (MOJ)
At the general meeting or national convention of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers
Associations of Japan and the National Federation of High School Parent-Teacher Associations,materials for raising awareness regarding the importance of filtering services, etc., shall be
distributed to disseminate knowledge about the appropriate use of the internet and how to avoid
victimization by sexual exploitation due to use of the internet. (Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology)
During the general meeting and the national convention of the Japan PTA National Conference
and the National High School PTA Federation, an educational material (“There Is a Lot of Danger
on the Internet—Do you think that it is somebody else’s problem?”) intended for promoting theappropriate use of smartphones and for preventing child sexual exploitation arising from internet
use were distributed and promoted. (MEXT)
In order to make parents/guardians aware of potential risks associated with the use of the internet
by children and of measures to prevent the criminal victimization of children, a leaflet for theprevention of the criminal victimization of children through the use of internet, titled “STOP!
Internet Crimes,” shall be produced, thereby promoting raising-awareness activities. (National
Police Agency)
In order to inform parents/guardians regarding the inherent dangers of children’s internet use andmeasures to prevent criminal victimization of children, the educational leaflet “STOP! Internet
Crimes” on preventing criminal victimization of children related to internet use was created anddistributed to parents/guardians via prefectural police departments. (NPA)
As part of efforts to facilitate the safe and secure use of the internet by young people, awarenessraising and educational materials for parents/guardians shall be produced and made publicly
available in collaboration with related ministries and agencies, thereby promoting awarenessraising activities. (Cabinet Office)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)23

In light of the lowering trend in the age of internet users, in January 2020, a leaflet entitled“Parenting in the Smartphone Age: Q&A for Worried Parents (Infant Version)” forparents/guardians of young children was created and published. (CAO)(iii) Assistance for the establishment of a cooperative structure at the local level for the safe andsecure use of the internet by young people
By holding the “Forum for the Creation of the Internet Use Environment for the Youth” in several
places nationwide in cooperation with local governments and related organizations, the government
shall assist in the establishment of cooperative structures at the local level to facilitate the safe andsecure use of the internet by young people. (Cabinet Office)In FY2019, the “Forum for the Creation of the Internet Use Environment for the Youth” wasorganized as a project to support local cooperation regarding young people’s internet use in threelocations nationwide (Nagano Prefecture in July and Ehime Prefecture & Nagasaki Prefecture in
November), with a total attendance of approximately 400 persons. (CAO)(iv) Assistance in publicity and awareness-raising activities at the local and family level for theproper use of the internet by children
With the aim of encouraging the proper use of the internet by children, in addition to assistance for“School Internet Patrols” conducted by the governments of each prefecture and designated cities via
the use of internet patrols and private specialized bodies, assistance shall be provided through theComprehensive Project for Promoting Support for Education at home in Local Communities so thatclasses on the risks and proper use of mobile phones and the internet will be provided toparents/guardians on such occasions as the medical checkups of children before they begin school,
parents’ meetings, parents’ days, etc. Also, in order to adapt to the rapidly evolving and expanding
internet environment, advanced measures against harmful environments at the local level shall bepromoted through the “Community Support Project for Internet-related Measures,” including thetraining of internet literacy instructors and the establishment of a system to deal with problems
involving the internet. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Support was provided to “School Internet Patrol for Early Detection and Response to Internet
Bullying,” an initiative implemented by prefectures and government ordinance cities (total of 18
local governments). The aim of the initiative is to build support structures for responding to andsolving bullying and other problems. (MEXT)
Via the Project for Development of Support Infrastructure for Education at Home in Local
Communities, support was given for lectures for parents/guardians on the dangers and appropriate* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

24use of cellphones and the internet during school entrance health examinations, parents’ meetings,
and parents’ observation days that are conducted in each community. (MEXT)
Via the Community Startup Project for Internet-related Measures, support was given for efforts,such as the training of internet literacy instructors and the holding of a workshop on how to
respond to internet-related problems, carried out by local governments and private organizations
in eight locations nationwide. The project supports progressive efforts regarding education andawareness-raising activities about safe and secure internet use in local areas. (MEXT)(v) Enhancement of information morals education at schools
Using the instruction manual, etc., concerning information morals education, seminars and forums
for information morals education for school teachers shall be held in an effort to disseminate
information morals education throughout the nation, and awareness-raising materials for children andstudents shall be produced and distributed so as to address new issues associated with computerization.
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Seminars on information morals education for educators and the like were held in four locations
nationwide. In addition, awareness-raising materials for children and students were created anddistributed, and teacher’s reference materials (guidance manual for teachers) were improved andenhanced. (MEXT)(vi) Development and publication of internet literacy indicators (ILAS) for the safe use of theinternet by young people
A test to visualize the ability of young people to cope with dangers and threats on the internet andthe actual status shall be conducted along with a questionnaire survey on the use of information
communication devices (smartphones, etc.) by young people, and the results shall be analyzed,
compiled, and made public every year as the “Internet Literacy Assessment indicator for Students(ILAS).” (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
Developed a test to visualize young people’s ability and its current situation to being able torespond to dangers and threats. The test is conducted alongside a survey on young people’s usageof information devices (such as smartphones), and the aggregated and analyzed results are
published annually since FY2012 as an indicators for the safe and secure usage of the internet byyoung people (ILAS: Internet Literacy Assessment indicator for Students). In FY2018,
approximately 78 schools, 12,626 first-year high school students nationwide participated the test,
and the aggregated and analyzed results were published in July 2019. For FY2019, first-year highschool students nationwide will be tested, and the result were aggregated and analyzed. (MIC)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)25

(vii) Surveys for cleaning up harmful environments surrounding juveniles
In order to promptly and appropriately deal with the situation where businesses in which highschool girls serve customers via sexual behavior emerge one after another in different methods
such as the “girls izakaya (Japanese style restaurant bar)” and the “high school girls rifure(reflexology),” a survey on the actual state of new types of business focused on children as sexual
objects shall be conducted. (National Police Agency)
In order to accurately grasp the actual state of “JK business,” a fact-finding survey was carriedout in January 2020. (NPA)
In order to correctly grasp the situation of crime victimization caused by the use of community
sites and to take various measures to prevent the victimization of children, a survey on the actual
state of crimes resulting from the use of community sites, etc., shall be conducted. (National Police
Agency)Prefectural police departments were instructed to report the items that are necessary for properly
understanding the criminal victimization of children arising from SNS and for taking various
measures to prevent the victimization of children. (NPA)(viii) Promotion of street guidance activities
Efforts shall be made in collaboration with related organizations and volunteers to find delinquentjuveniles by actively talking to young people focusing on the time and place where gatherings ofdelinquent juveniles or delinquency are likely to take place and, when a delinquent juvenile is foundor taken into custody, necessary warnings and guidance shall be provided to such juvenile or his/herparent/guardian taking into consideration the characteristics of such juvenile. By promoting thesestreet guidance activities, efforts shall be made to prevent such juvenile from becoming a victim ofsexual exploitation and to early detect and protect child victims. (National Police Agency)
Prefectural police departments promoted street guidance activities in cooperation with juvenile
police volunteers and others. (NPA)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)26

(ix) Promotion of the activities of juvenile guidance commissioners for the sound developmentof juveniles
Juvenile guidance commissioners commissioned by Prefectural Public Safety Commissions based on
the Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, etc. (Act No.122 of 1948) shall be
provided with assistance such as the provision of information on the situation of juvenile delinquency,
and the commissioner’s activity to ensure the sound development of juveniles shall be promoted,
including street juvenile guidance, advice to the operators of amusement businesses, and assistance tojuvenile victims, etc. (National Police Agency)
Prefectural police departments improved the knowledge and skills of juvenile guidancecommissioners through conducting government-mandated training for the commissioners andoffering assistance such as providing information on the state of juvenile delinquency andamusement businesses, and promoted their activities for the sound development of juveniles.
(NPA)(x) Support for delinquent juveniles, etc., at Juvenile Assessment Centers
As part of the community support service of Juvenile Assessment Centers support for delinquentjuveniles and their families, etc., shall be promoted in collaboration with related organizations toprevent juvenile delinquency and to rehabilitate delinquent juveniles. (Ministry of Justice)
As a part of the support for the prevention of juvenile delinquency and crimes at Juvenile
Assessment Centers (community support service), support was provided to delinquent juveniles
and their families, etc., in collaboration with related organizations to prevent juvenile delinquency
and to rehabilitate delinquent juveniles. (MOJ)(xi) Strengthening of assistance in cybercrime prevention volunteer activities
The establishment of cybercrime prevention volunteer organization groups, which engage ineducational activities for the prevention of crimes in cyber space, public relations, and awarenessraising activities for the enhancement of awareness regarding social norms, online environment
cleanups through cyber patrols, and other activities, shall be encouraged, and assistance in cybercrime
prevention volunteer activities including activities to prevent child sexual exploitation shall bestrengthened through the distribution of the Manual for Cybercrime Prevention Volunteer Activities(Model), ”Cybercrime Prevention Volunteer Training Curriculum (Model),” etc. (National Police
Agency)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)27

To support cybercrime prevention volunteer activities nationwide, “Manual for Cybercrime
Prevention Volunteer Activities (Model)”, among others, was made available on the NPA website.
Also, on the website, cybercrime prevention volunteer groups that are making excellent efforts
are listed, and thus NPA is promoting support for cybercrime prevention volunteer activities.
(NPA)(xii) Support for single-parent families
In order to help single-parent families facing financial difficulties achieve self-reliance,
comprehensive support shall be provided under the Project to Assist in the Self-reliance of Families
Including Single-parent Families and Families with Multiple Children approved in December 2015 (atthe meeting of the Council for Combating Childhood Poverty), such as in: i) doubling the additionalamount of the child rearing allowance for the second- and later-born children (starting from theallowance for August 2016), ii) extending the duration of grants from the subsidies for the promotionof advanced vocational training, which is aimed at facilitating the acquisition of qualifications
advantageous in securing a job, from two years to three years (starting from FY2016), iii) promoting
the provision of one-stop services at local government consultation counters to handle issues peculiar
to single-parent families, and iv) creating places where support for the acquisition of good lifestyle
habits and learning support can be provided after the hours of after-school children’s clubs. (Ministryof Health, Labour and Welfare)
Based on the Project to Assist in the Self-reliance of Families Including Single-parent Families
and Families with Multiple Children, the following measures were steadily implemented.
(i)

The additional amount of child-rearing allowance for the second- and later-born children was
raised to a maximum of double the previous amount, starting from the allowance for August
2016, based on the Revised Child-Rearing Allowance Act passed by an ordinary session of
the Diet in 2016.

(ii) With an aim to facilitate the acquisition of qualifications that are advantageous in securing ajob, the subsidies for the promotion of advanced vocational training was extended to single
parents, who train at training institutions pertaining the above qualifications for a year or
more, for the period equivalent to the enrollment period in the training institution (maximumof four years) in order to reduce their burden of living expenses.
(iii) We promoted the development of one-stop services that provide support for matters ranging
from child-rearing and daily life to finding work by adding vocational support specialists, inaddition to the mother- and father-child self-sufficiency support workers, to the consultation
counters for single-parent families. Furthermore, during times such as the submission period
for the child-rearing allowance status notification (August each year), we promoted the* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

28

development of a system that allows single parents to discuss at once the various issues thatthey face.
(iv) A project to support children’s daily life and study was implemented for children of single-parent
families. The project assisted children to acquire basic life skills and provided learning supportand meals while also offering counseling at children’s welfare facilities and the likes, after thehours of after-school clubs. (MHLW)The number of childrearing allowance payments was raised from three times to six times per year
beginning with the November 2019 payments. (MHLW)(xiii) Employment support for parents in single-parent families
Employment support shall be provided to parents in single-parent families through the following
measures.
With respect to employment support at Hello Work (a public employment security office), onestop-type employment support systems shall be established throughout the nation by setting up
Hello Work consultation counters at municipal welfare offices for needy persons including welfare
recipients and the recipient of child rearing allowances, and team support shall be provided underagreements between Hello Work and local governments.
At Hello Work for Mothers, comprehensive and consistent support for the jobseekers with smallchildren shall be continued so as to assist them in re-entering labor market. For parents in singleparent families, in particular, employment support shall be strengthened by staffing specialized
counselors.
Subsidies for the employment development of designated job seekers shall be granted to
employers that have employed parents in single-parent families. In addition, employers that have
employed parents in single-parent families shall be entitled to receive an additional amount ofCareer Enhancement Subsidy for employers that have employed fixed-term contract workers as
regular employees and trial employment incentive payments for employers that have provided acertain period of trial employment opportunities to job seekers that have difficulties in obtaining
employment. Thus, support shall be provided through employment-related subsidies. (Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare)
For needy persons, including welfare recipients and the recipients of childrearing allowances,
team support is provided under agreements between Hello Work and local governments by setting
up Hello Work consultation counters at municipal welfare offices, etc. (MHLW)At Hello Work for Mothers, comprehensive and consistent support has been provided to job
seekers with small children to assist them in re-entering labor market. For parents in single-parent
families, in particular, employment support was provided by staffing specialized counselors.
* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

29

(MHLW)
The payment of subsidies for employment development of designated job seekers to employers
hiring parents in single-parent families was continued. In addition, support via employmentrelated subsidies was provided. For example, when parents in single-parent families were hired,
the amount of subsidies was increased in cases of the Career Enhancement Subsidy, which is
granted to employers that have employed fixed-term contract workers as regular employees, andTrial Employment Subsidy, which is granted to employers hiring job seekers, who have difficulties
finding stable employment, on a trial basis for a certain period. (MHLW)(xiv) Employment support for youths
In addition to employment support for new graduates and young non-regular workers (“freeters”)
who are seeking employment provided at Hello Work, specialized consultation support for inactive
NEET to help achieve vocational independence and consultation services concerning job retention,
career enhancement, etc., for those that are employed shall be provided at Regional Youth Support
Stations. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Detailed employment support was provided at Hello Work New Graduate Support and YouthHello Work for new graduates and young non-regular workers (“freeters”) who are seeking
employment. (MHLW)
Consultation support and the like were provided at Regional Youth Support Stations to help
achieve vocational independence. (MHLW)(xv) Support for poor persons
Under the Act on Support for Self-reliance of Needy Persons (Act No. 105 of 2013), support forchildren from poor families and their parents/guardians shall be implemented through the“Consultation Service for Self-reliance,” which provides comprehensive support, and the “Learningassistance Service for Children from Poor Households,” etc. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
In FY2019, learning support was strengthened as the “Learning and Living Support Project forChildren Living in Poverty” by adding services for providing advice on living habits andnurturing environments for children and information on consultation regarding education andemployment (career choices), along with coordination with related organizations. (MHLW)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)30

3. Promotion of measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of victimization that focuses
on tools used for child sexual exploitation(i) Assistance in measures against such tools as taken by private organizations to protect children
In order to prevent children from being involved in crimes via the internet, the government shall (byparticipating in the discussion of measures by private organizations including the Content Evaluationand Monitoring Association (EMA) and Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association, and byproviding advice) provide assistance in the promotion of continuous efforts by content operators toprotect children, such as in the introduction of effective “Internet zoning” (which refers to a tool tocontrol the transmission and receipt of short messages between adults and children or ID searches on
websites using the age information owned by mobile carriers so as not to allow ill-intentioned adults
to approach children; the same shall apply hereinafter) utilizing the age verification function of mobile
phone users or their age information, or the strengthening of the system to monitor websites such as
the checking of short-message content in message exchange services. (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, and National Police Agency)
We contributed to the discussions of Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association on improving
the internet usage environment for young people through participating in the “Review Meeting on
Internet Environment Development” (the meeting for FY2019 was held in December), among
others. (MIC)
At the Conference for Development of Internet Use Environment for Young People, which
consists of 19 SNS operators, voluntary efforts to prevent child victimization, such as information
sharing among the participating operators, research, and public relations and awareness-raising
activities, were promoted. NPA also actively participated in the conference and provided
information regarding child victimization cases and trends of victimization. (NPA)(ii) Assistance in voluntary efforts by mobile carries, third-party organizations, etc., to promote
the use of filtering services
Under the ICT Service Safety and Security Study Group, the “Task Force on the Development ofSecure and Safe Internet Use Environment for the Youth” has been set up and participated in byexperts, mobile carriers, etc. and shall make recommendations concerning the publicity of filtering
services for mobile phones and the improvement of the utilization rate in light of the issues to be
tackled, thereby promoting voluntary efforts by mobile carriers and third-party organizations
concerned with filtering approval. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
Held “The Task Force on the Development of Secure and Safe Internet Use Environment for the* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)31Youth” and discussed on the efforts of related bodies after the enforcement of the Revised Act on
Development of Internet Environment for Young People (February 2018) and other subjects.
Compiled the “Issues and Measures to Promote Youth’s Use of Filtering” on August 9, 2019.
Based on this report, the efforts of related business operators and bodies were promoted. (MIC)
Repeat mention 1 - (x): Implementation of “e-Net Caravan” (MIC)(iii) Assistance for the operation of the Guidelines on Measures for Illegal Information on theInternet and Model Contract Articles on Measures for Illegal/Harmful Information
By participating in the liaison conference on measures for illegal information held by tradeassociations (Telecommunications Carriers Association, Telecom Services Association, Japan Internet
Providers Association, and Japan Cable and Telecommunications Association) as an observer andotherwise, the government will provide assistance in the proper operation of the Guidelines on
Measures for Illegal Information on the Internet, including the criteria for child pornography thatshould be deleted and the criteria for the violation of the Act on Regulation on Soliciting Children by
Using Opposite Sex Introducing Service on Internet (Act No. 83 of 2003; hereinafter referred to as the“Online Dating Sites Regulation Act”), and the Model Contract Articles on Measures for
Illegal/Harmful Information,” including the provisions regarding the blocking of child pornography
and the provisions prohibiting child prostitution, which have been established by said tradeassociations. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
We participated as an observer in the liaison conference on measures for illegal information andassisted the appropriate operation of the Guidelines on Measures for Illegal Information on theInternet and the Model Contract Articles on Measures for Illegal/Harmful Information. (MIC)(iv) Assistance in consultation services concerning illegal/harmful information on the internet
In order to strengthen measures taken by internet service providers (hereinafter referred to as “ISPs”)
for illegal/harmful information on the internet based on relevant guidelines, the government will
provide assistance for the operation of the Consultation Center for Illegal/Harmful Information, which
conducts consultation for general internet users concerning illegal/harmful information on the internet,
consultation for school officials concerning cyberbullying, etc., and consultation for ISPs, etc.,
concerning requests for deletion from general internet users, organizations dealing with human rights
violations, the Internet Hotline Center, and police, etc. (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications)
In order to strengthen the measures taken by ISPs against illegal/harmful contents on the internet
according to relevant guidelines, the Consultation Center for Illegal/Harmful Information was* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)32established and responded to consultations from individuals and IPSs on how to address individual
cases involving illegal/harmful information on the internet. (MIC)
Among the concerns and inquiries that the Consultation Center for Illegal/Harmful Information
received, we provided information to the cooperating business operators regarding certain cases,
such as those with clear infringement of the rights of young people. (MIC)(v) Promotion of various measures toward improvement in the effectiveness of blocking
Images of child sexual exploitation on the internet significantly infringes on the rights of children. In
an effort to protect the rights of children, ISPs and other business operators have been implementing
blocking on a voluntary basis since April 2011. For the purpose of encouraging the voluntary
introduction of effective blocking by ISPs and other business operators, while paying attention not tocause any unreasonable effects on the secrecy of communications and the freedom of expression ofinternet users, continuous efforts shall be made so as to have ISPs and other related parties understandthe significance and effectiveness of blocking in preventing the distribution of child pornography on
the internet.
Furthermore, assistance shall be provided so that, after any images of child pornography are detected,
irrespective of the nationality of the servers, information will be provided from the National Police
Agency and the Internet Hotline Center to the body to prepare and manage the address lists of websites
containing child pornography, and so that the preparation of an address list of websites containing
child pornography and the provision of relevant address lists to ISPs and other related parties by the
body to prepare and manage the address lists of websites containing child pornography will be
implemented rapidly and effectively. In addition, assistance shall be continuously provided so that
ISPs can implement blocking in a stable manner. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications,
National Police Agency, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
As it is important to operate the blocking of child pornography websites with consideration to
avoiding any unreasonable effects on the secrecy of communications and the freedom of
expression of internet users, we provided assistance for the voluntary introduction and operationof blocks by ISPs and other business operators. (MIC)
We provided support for private voluntary efforts through sharing necessary information with andoffering advice to private associations, such as Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association, theExpert Committee for Measures to Stop the Distribution of Child Pornography, and the Internet
Content Safety Association. (MIC)
The Internet Content Safety Association, an organization that prepares and manages the address
lists of websites containing child pornography, was established in March 2011, and some ISPs
have voluntarily introduced blocking since April 2011. As of January 30, 2020, 76 ISPs, four
* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)33

telecommunication organizations, three search engine operators, and two internet filter operators
have joined the association. The child pornography address lists have been provided by the
association, and we supported such efforts so that the measures to stop the distribution of childpornography can be undertaken. (MIC)
The Internet Hotline Center, which is operated by a private operator commissioned by the NPA,
received 868 reports of public display of child pornography images from general internet users in
the first half of 2019. The center provides information to the Internet Content Safety Association
so as to support the implementation of blocking by private business operators. (NPA)(vi) Measures for the business operators of online dating sites and community sites
The National Police Agency shall provide information about the actual state of child sexual
exploitation to major online dating site business operators and shall request them to take measures toprevent the sexual victimization of children. For the elimination of prostitution organizations, inparticular, the exchange of information with online dating site business operators and a study ofmeasures will be implemented.
Information about the actual state of child sexual exploitation will also be provided individually tomajor community site business operators and, according to the size of the business and the type ofservices provided, efforts shall be made to have them strengthen voluntary measures to prevent thesexual victimization of children, such as the cleanup of the community site environment or the
introduction of stricter age verification systems, with a view toward introducing effective Internet
zoning. (National Police Agency)
Measures to prevent the sexual victimization of children are promoted by, among others, providing
information regarding the actual state of child victimization to major online dating site business
operators. (NPA)
In addition to supporting the activities of the Conference for Development of Internet Use
Environment for Young People, which consists of major SNS operators, NPA provided
information individually on the actual state of child victimization to operators who do not takepart in the conference and urged SNS operators to strengthen their voluntary measures to prevent
victimization according to the size of their businesses and the type of their services. (NPA)(vii) Promotion of measures to prevent the distribution of and access to images of childpornography
Efforts shall be made to detect illegal information related to child pornography through cyber patrols
and reports to the Internet Hotline Center or the anonymous reporting program and, if such information
is detected, a request for deletion shall be issued to the site administrator by the police or the Internet* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)34

Hotline Center. (National Police Agency)
With respect to child pornography images that have been found through cyber patrols and reports
from the Internet Hotline Center, either the police or the Internet Hotline Center issued requests
for deletion to website administrators. During the first half of 2019, there were 113 cases where
requests for the deletion of public display of child pornography images were issued by the Internet
Hotline Center. (NPA)(viii) Operation of the Internet Hotline Center
The operation of the Internet Hotline Center shall continue via outsourcing to the private sector. The
role of the Internet Hotline Center includes receiving reports on illegal information including
information on the public display of child pornography prohibited under the Act Against Child
Prostitution and Child Pornography or information on soliciting prohibited under the Online Dating
Sites Regulation Act, reporting to the police, and issuing a request to the site administrator for deletion.
The Internet Hotline Center shall report to the police about child pornography, provide information to
the Internet Content Safety Association, which prepares and manages address lists of websites
containing child pornography in order to contribute to the blocking of images of child pornography,
and provide reports on the images of child pornography stored on overseas web servers to INHOPE,
which is a collaborative network of counterpart organizations around the world. (National Police
Agency)The Internet Hotline Center analyzes each of the accepted reports and, if it determines that thereport is concerning illegal information, it reports to the police or issues a request for deletion to
website administrators. Of the reports of public display of child pornography that it received, 152cases were reported to police and requests for deletion were issued in 113 cases (in the first halfof 2019). The center also reports information of public display of child pornography to INHOPE
and provides information to the Internet Content Safety Association. (NPA)(ix) Elimination of criminal organizations and illegal adult entertainment establishments inentertainment/amusement areas by nurturing an atmosphere encouraging crime prevention
volunteer activities
The elimination of criminal organizations and illegal adult entertainment establishments inentertainment/amusement areas and destruction of “criminal infrastructure” shall be facilitatedthrough the enhancement of the activities of crime prevention volunteer groups including residents’associations and firefighting services under collaboration with local shopping districts and municipal
governments. (National Police Agency)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)35

In addition to driving forward the crime prevention patrols by volunteer groups and otherinitiatives through prefectural police departments, we conducted the below efforts and others incollaboration with local shopping districts and municipal governments.
We worked to understand the actual state of criminal organization, illegal adult entertainment
establishments, and criminal infrastructure in entertainment/amusement areas. In addition, after
explaining to and gaining understanding from local shopping districts and municipal governments
about the importance of resolving the situation where empty buildings and stores are repeatedlyused by illegal adult entertainment establishments as criminal infrastructure, we moved forwardwith the elimination of criminal organizations and illegal adult entertainment establishments andthe destruction of crime infrastructure, among others, with the intention of maintaining the effectsof the crackdown.
In order to prevent organized crime groups from establishing their offices and illegal adultentertainment establishments from moving in the buildings and stores, which became vacant as aresult of the crackdown, and in apartments in entertainment/amusement areas and their vicinity
and to make such groups leave after they have moved in, guidance was given to real-estatetransaction businesses, owners of buildings and apartments, management companies, local
shopping districts, and others on the measures such as how to exclude organized criminal groups
and illegal adult entertainment establishments at the time of real-estate lease contracts. (NPA)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)36

4. Prompt protection of child victims and the promotion of appropriate support(i) Creation of a comfortable environment for children and their parents/guardians for
consultations
At the Juvenile Support Center established in the prefectural police department and at the juvenile
section of police stations, police officers and juvenile guidance officials shall meet and talk withchildren or their parents/guardians and provide necessary advice and guidance according to thecontents of the consultation. Also, telephone consultations shall be provided under the name of
the “Young Telephone Corner” or as another name in an effort to detect child victims at an earlydate. As a means of consultation, the introduction of a toll-free telephone number and consultation
services at night or on holidays via e-mail, etc., shall be promoted. In addition, it should be actively
announced that anonymous consultation is available. (National Police Agency)
Prefectural police departments received 78,037 concerns and inquiries from children and theirparents/guardians in 2019 and provided necessary advice and guidance in person or by phone. In
addition, NPA used media, such as its website and leaflets, to publicize the “Young Telephone
Corner,” a telephone consultation service of prefectural police departments, as well as Email andother consultation services. (NPA)
As a system to provide appropriate consultation services based on the needs of victims and thecontent of consultations, “Information Website on Consultation Services on Child Victimization
by Sexual Crime” was created and introduced on the NPA website in June 2019. (NPA)
In addition to the counseling services concerning human rights issues including sexual
exploitation, as provided by Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus throughout
Japan, the Ministry of Justice is taking various measures including the operation of a toll-free
telephone counseling services called “Children’s Rights Hotline” and human rights counselingservices on the internet called “SOS e-mail,” along with the distribution of “Children’s Rights
SOS Mini-Letters” (pre-stamped and addressed sealable postcards, for human rights counseling)
to elementary and junior high school students. Information on these counseling services shall befurther disseminated through posting on the website of the Ministry of Justice as well as
distributing awareness-raising booklets and leaflets containing such information to the generalpublic. (Ministry of Justice)
The Legal Affairs Bureaus and the District Legal Affairs Bureaus provide human rights counselingin all matters of human rights issues, including sexual exploitation of children. In addition, theMOJ has taken various measures, including the operation of a toll-free telephone consultation* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

37

service “Children’s Rights Hotline” and the internet human-rights consultation service“Children’s Rights SOS e-mail,” along with the distribution of the “Children’s Rights SOS MiniLetters” (letters with a stamped envelope for human rights counseling) to all students inelementary and junior high school throughout the country. (MOJ)
The week from August 29 to September 4, 2019 was designated as “Nationwide Children’s Rights
Hotline Promotion Week,” during which counseling service structure was expanded by extending
consultation hours on weekdays and opening consultation hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Furthermore, the MOJ advertised these counseling services to the general public on its website,
along with displaying posters and distributing awareness-raising booklets and leaflets withinformation about the counseling services. (MOJ)(ii) Reponses considering convenience for the person undergoing a consultation
When a consultation is requested by a victim of child sexual exploitation via various consultation
services including general telephone consultation services such as #9110 (police consultation
telephone number) and #189 (nationwide hotline connected to Child Guidance Centers), appropriate
advice and information shall be provided and, if it is appropriate that the matter be handled at anotheradministrative body or another organization, smooth handover shall be ensured with consideration
given to privacy protection. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare)
When consultations regarding child sexual exploitation were requested at the juvenile consultation
counter, the police provided appropriate advice and information and responded with consideration
to the convenience of the persons undergoing the consultations through various ways, including
handing over the case to other appropriate administrative agencies as necessary. (NPA)
With respect to #189, which is a system to enable anyone that has spotted a child suspected to beabused to report to or consult with a Child Guidance Center without hesitation, improvements
have been made to shorten the wait time before connecting to a Child Guidance Center, including
a reduction in the length of the pre-recorded guidance in April 2016, with the introduction of acall center-based operator system for calls from mobile phones and others in February 2018. In
December 2019, the name “Nationwide Hotline Connected to Child Guidance Centers” waschanged to “Child Abuse Hotline Connected to Child Guidance Centers,” and a hotline dedicatedto consultation, “Child Guidance Center Consultation Hotline” was set up. The Child Abuse
Hotline Connected to Child Guidance Centers was made toll-free for the convenience of the callers.
(MHLW)
Repeat mention 4 - (i): Establishment of consultation counters for child sexual exploitation (NPA)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)38

(iii) Appropriate handling of children’s rights issues
When a suspected human rights violation is recognized through a human rights counseling etc., sucha case shall be investigated as a human rights violation case, and appropriate measures shall be taken
depending on a case, including the protection of the child victim, in collaboration with the police,
Child Guidance Centers, and other related organizations. (Ministry of Justice)
In cases where alleged human rights violations were recognized during consultations,investigations were undertaken and measures appropriate to the human rights violation cases were
implemented, for example, providing protection to child victims in cooperation among police,
Child Guidance Centers and relevant agencies. (MOJ)(iv) Dissemination of the anonymous reporting program for the creation of a secure society
The anonymous reporting program under which anonymous reports of human trafficking crimes orsuspected human trafficking crimes, crimes related to people’s welfare, child abuse, etc., are received
and information fees are paid according to the degree of contribution to the arrest or the protection of
the victim shall be publicized as part of efforts for the early detection of these crimes, which tend tobe hidden. (National Police Agency)
The internet-based public relations efforts regarding the anonymous reporting program were
continued by putting up link banners, etc., not only on the websites of the NPA and prefectural
police headquarters but also on the websites of relevant administrative agencies. (NPA)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Dissemination of information on the anonymous reporting system via
public relations and awareness-raising posters(v) Promotion of guidance for children involved in businesses focused on children as sexual
objects
If a child is engaged in a businesses focused on children as sexual objects, the morality of the childwill be adversely affected and their moral character may decline. Moreover, engaging in such businesscould lead to sexual victimization via rape, indecent assault, child prostitution, or other sexual
offenses.
Therefore, i) an act of handing out flyers for a business serving customers using children as featureof the services or a business of entertaining customers by playing to sexual gratification, or an act oforally soliciting customers for such a business, ii) an act of hanging out a place where such business
is operated, iii) an act of working for such a business (excluding those described in i)), and iv) an actof inducing other children to work for such a business are designated as subject to correction guidance.
* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

39

The police shall take those children that have been involved any of the above into custody and shallcontact their parents/guardians and school officials to urge them to admonish or punish the children inquestion. (National Police Agency)
In the prefectures where “JK business” is known to be practiced, the police departments actively
carried out street guidance activities together with active on-site investigation under relevant laws
and regulations in order to protect children from “JK business.” (NPA)(vi) Promotion of cyber guidance
In order to protect children from crimes involving personal welfare caused by the use of the internet
and to promote the sound development of children, the police shall promote cyber guidance in which,if an inappropriate message on the internet by a child such as an offer of “patronage dating” is detectedduring a cyber patrol, the police shall contact the child that wrote such message and directly provide
warning and guidance. (National Police Agency)
Prefectural police departments promoted efforts to call public attention to inappropriate messages
on SNS that could lead to child sexual exploitation, while taking child victims into protective
custody. (NPA)(vii) Support, etc., for children at Child Guidance Centers and local governments
When a Child Guidance Center receives a consultation concerning a child that has been harmed
mentally and physically due to sexual abuse or child pornography crime, support shall be provided
such as temporary custody when his/her safety needs to be secured, assistance concerning a visit to a
medical institution to receive specialized medical care, counseling by child psychologists, andadmission to a child welfare facility for the child for whom it is difficult to return home, and the caseshall be reported to the police after confirming the damage caused by the situation. Also, municipal
governments shall fully collaborate and share information with Child Guidance Centers and otherrelated organizations through the Regional Council for Children in Need of Protection to provide
consultation for child victims of sexual abuse or child pornography crimes in a more familiar
environment and to provide necessary support.
In addition, information about the nationwide hotline number to Child Guidance Centers (189),
including the fact that anonymous reporting is acceptable, shall be widely disseminated so that anyone
that has spotted a child that seems to be abused can call the Child Guidance Center without hesitation.
(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)Child Guidance Centers and local governments provided consultation and support to children who* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)40

had been subjected to child abuse, including sexual abuse. In addition, a new plan“Comprehensive Reinforcement Plan for Child Abuse Prevention Measures System” wasdeveloped in December 2018, in response to the “Emergency Comprehensive Measures toEnhance Child Abuse Prevention Measures,” decided by the Meeting of Relevant Ministers on
Child Abuse Prevention Measures (Meeting of Relevant Ministers) in July 2018. The systems andexpertise of the Child Guidance Centers and local governments are planned to be strengthened infour years from FY2019 through measures such as staffing approximately 2,020 more childwelfare officers at the Child Guidance Centers, in addition to 3,240 specialists in FY2017, andsetting up child and family general support bases in all municipalities. Furthermore, “Regarding
Further Thorough Implementation and Strengthening of the ‘Emergency Comprehensive
Measures to Enhance Child Abuse Prevention Measures’” was decided in February 2019, and“Regarding Fundamental Reinforcement of Child Abuse Prevention Measures” was decided in
March 2019 by the Meeting of Relevant Ministers. In addition, a bill for partial amendments to
the Child Welfare Act and other laws was submitted to the Diet and was passed and enacted inJune of the same year. The bill includes the protection of children’s rights, enhancement of theChild Guidance Centers, and strengthening of cooperation among related organizations, among
others. (MHLW)
During the “Child Abuse Prevention Month” (November), public relations and awareness-raisingmaterials were produced, such as posters and the like, with messages such as it is possible to reportanonymously via the Nationwide Hotline Connected to Child Guidance Centers (#189).
Approximately 110,000 B2-format posters, 300,000 A3-format posters, and 2 million leaflets were
produced. The materials were distributed to municipalities, relevant ministries and agencies, andrelevant organizations, among others. (MHLW)(viii) Improvement of convenience for victims of sexual crimes in obtaining information
In addition to the current measures, including the establishment of the “Sexual Crime Emergency
Call” telephone consultation service and consultation offices, public announcements regarding theses
consultation service, and the distribution of “Guidance for Victims of Crime” to victims of sexual
crimes, the police shall make efforts to improve convenience for victims of sexual crimes in obtaining
information based on requests from the victims of sexual crimes. As for victims that do not want totake legal action, further efforts shall be made to help them receive early support from crime victim
support groups more easily by, with the consent of the victim, providing the contact information of thevictim and the content of the consultation to a group that provides early-stage assistance to victims ofcrime. (National Police Agency)
The nationwide speed dial (#8103), which connects to the sexual crime victim hotlines of* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)41prefectural police departments, was made available 24 hours/day toll-free, and public relations
efforts were promoted to make it widely known to the public. The speed dial was introduced inAugust 2017 in order to make it easier for sexual crime victims to seek help from the police. We
also worked to help victims who do not wish to take legal action to receive early support moreeasily from crime victim support groups through efforts, such as providing the contact informationof the victims and the summary of the consultations to the groups that offer early-stage assistanceto crime victims, after carefully explaining to the victims about the kinds of supports that thegroups can provide and that the victims’ secret will be protected, and obtaining the victims’
consent. (NPA)(ix) Enhancement of support for victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence
Based on the Fourth Basic Plan for Gender Equality (approved by the Cabinet on December 25,2015), a support system, including establishing the one-stop support center for victims of sexual
crimes and sexual violence and other supports for the victim shall be enhanced. (Cabinet Office,National Police Agency, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Between December 2019 to February 2020, five training sessions were conducted for civil
servants in charge of support for victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence at local governments,
medical personnel involved with such support, and counselors that work at support organizations(e.g., Centers for Gender Equality and one-stop support centers for victims of sexual crimes andsexual violence) in order to establish a system that enables victims of sexual crimes and sexual
violence to comfortably receive necessary counseling and support. (CAO)
Through working to stabilize the operation of one-stop support centers and improve the quality ofthe service by utilizing the “Support Grant for Victims of Sexual Crimes and Sexual Violence,”
we promoted the efforts of prefectures to support victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence.
(CAO)(x) Promotion of the protection of trafficking victims
Considering the fact that many trafficking victims are women and children and based on the Japan’s
2014 Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons (approved at Ministerial Meeting Concerning
Measures Against Crime on December 16, 2014), the accurate identification of victims and proper
protection shall be promoted in collaboration with related organizations. (National Police Agency,
Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Health, Labourand Welfare)
The police worked to identify victims accurately and provide proper protection in collaboration* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)42

with related organizations and NGOs. Police consultation hotlines and anonymous reporting
hotlines are responding to consultations and reports carefully so that trafficking crimes are notoverlooked. (NPA)(xi) Implementation of continuous support for child victims
Juvenile guidance officials and specialized juvenile consultation officials shall provide continuous
support through systematic counseling according to the character of each child victim and thecoordination of the environment in collaboration with family, schools, and Child Guidance Centers.
(National Police Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, andMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare)Prefectural police departments provided continuous support for child victims through efforts suchas providing child victims with counseling from juvenile guidance officials that have counselingskills and knowledge of the character and psychology of children and from in-house counselors
that are certified as public psychologists, with the advice of experts in psychology and otherdisciplines, and coordinating the victims’ family environments in collaboration with relevant
institutions such as schools and Child Guidance Centers, along with volunteer workers such asuniversity students that are commissioned to work as support providers. (NPA)In FY2019, in order to appropriately address the concerns voiced by children, including victimsof child sexual exploitation, we made efforts to enhance the counseling system at schools throughthe appropriate placement of school counselors, who provide psychological care to students, andschool social workers, who provide support by working on the various circumstances surrounding
the students. (MEXT)(xii) Protection and support for women in need of protection under the women’s protection
project
For women facing various difficulties, consultation by officials of the Women’s Consulting Office or
women’s consultants shall be provided along with other support in collaboration with relatedorganizations such as the provision of information and services to accompany the victim. In addition,
temporary protection, medium- to long-term support for children accompanying the women staying at
women’s protection facilities such as allowances for entering school, aftercare, and a model project toassist a life of self-reliance for victims of domestic violence shall be implemented.
With respect to the women’s protection project, after grasping the current situation, the improvementof the project based on the actual state shall be considered. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, and Ministry of Justice)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)43Based on the discussion at the “Meeting to Study How to Support Women Facing Difficult
Problems,” which started from July 2018, “Policy for the Review of the Operation of Women’s
Protection Project” was published in June 2019, setting forth immediate measures for the
improvement of the operation of the women’s protection project. In October of the same year,“Interim Report of the Meeting to Study How to Support Women Facing Difficult Problems” waspublished, outlining the basic idea of the new structure for the review of the women’s protection
project. (MHLW)(xiii) Provision of support at child welfare facilities
Foster homes, infant homes, child psychotherapeutic institutions, children’s self-reliance support
facilities, maternal and child support facilities, and Child and Family Support Centers shall, in
collaboration with related organizations including Child Guidance Centers and municipal
governments, provide consultation and assistance to children that have been harmed mentally andphysically due to sexual abuse or victimization by a child pornography crime, and officials in charge
shall be deployed to provide psychotherapy. With the enactment of the Act on Partial Amendment of
the Child Welfare Act (Act No.63 of 2016; hereinafter referred to as the “Amended Child Welfare Actof 2016”) in May 2016, provisions concerning the following matters have been incorporated for the
purpose of providing flexible self-reliance support tailored to the situation of each child and for
implementing continuous support at a place familiar to the child.
Assignment to prefectural governments (Child Guidance Centers) of the provision of consistent
support for foster parents, from the recruitment of foster parents to self-reliance support forchildrenContinuation of support for persons 18 years of age or over including admission into support
facilities and entrustment to foster parents
Creation of an obligation of municipal governments to make sincere efforts to establish a support
base to provide integrated support including grasping the actual situation of children and theprovision of information
The steady enforcement of these provisions shall be ensured. (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare)The following initiatives were implemented:。
(i)

Project to manage Child and Family Support Centers, etc.
Foster homes, infant homes, child psychotherapeutic institutions, children’s self-reliancesupport facilities, maternal and child support facilities, and Child and Family Support Centers,in collaboration with related organizations including Child Guidance Centers and municipal
governments, provided consultation and assistance to children who have been harmed* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)44

mentally and physically due to sexual abuse or victimization by a child pornography crime.
(127 Child and Family Support Centers have been established, as of October 2018.)(ii) Placement of officials in charge of psychotherapy
Officials in charge of psychotherapy were placed to provide psychotherapy to children withtrauma from abuse, etc.
(iii) Comprehensive Support Project for Foster Parents Care (Fostering)
The existing “Foster Parents Support Project” was renewed as the “Comprehensive Support
Project for Foster Parents Care (Fostering),” and a consistent form of support for foster
parents was implemented, including: the recruitment and assessment of foster parents;
training for foster parents before and after registration and after the entrustment of children;
matching of foster parents and children; support for foster parent care during the entrustmentof children; and support after entrustment to foster parents is terminated. (In FY2018, 69
local governments implemented the Foster Parents Support Project.)(iv) Project to support independence from social care
For those who had previously been entrusted to foster parents or admitted to foster homes,
but were released from such care when they reached age 18 (or 20 in case of extension), a
project was implemented to allow them to continue receiving the necessary support until theend of the fiscal year that they turn 22 years old, in principle. (In FY2018, 55 local
governments implemented the project to support independence from social care.)(MHLW)(xiv) Support provided by the Japan Legal Support Center
Regardless of the length of time that has elapsed from the damage, to inquiries from the victims ofcrime by telephone or at its office, the Japan Legal Support Center (hereinafter referred to as the“JLSC”) provides information on the legal systems and consultation centers, and referral to lawyers
who are well versed in supporting the victims of crime, by its staff dedicated to supporting victims ofcrime. Also, as aid services entrusted by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, for victims who are
not financially capable, the JLSC provides assistance in paying for attorneys’ fees for legal services
such as claims for damage against the offenders. In addition, the JLSC provides victims of child abuse
with legal consultation necessary for the prevention of victimization, regardless of their financial
capacities. (Ministry of Justice)
To inquiries from the victims of crime by telephone or at its office, the JLSC provides informationon legal systems and consultation centers, and referral to lawyers who are well-versed insupporting victims of crime, by its staff dedicated to supporting victims of crime.
In addition, the JLSC provides victims of child abuse with legal consultation necessary for the* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

45

prevention of revictimization, regardless of their financial capacities. (MOJ)
In cases where parental consent can be obtained, such as where the offender is a third person byusing the Civil Legal Aid Services, the JLSC provides child abuse victims that are not financiallycapable with free legal consultation and assistance in paying for attorneys’ fees for legal
proceedings, such as in claims for damage against offenders. (MOJ)
In cases where the Civil Legal Aid Services cannot be used due to the non-cooperation of therelatives of the child victim, such as when the offender is their parent, as part of aid services
entrusted by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the JLSC provides assistance in paying for
attorneys’ fees for agent services in administrative procedures (acting as the agent of the child innegotiation with administrative bodies such as the Child Guidance Center) and for agent services
in legal proceedings (acting as the agent of the child in the petition of the loss of parental authority,
the action for the dissolution of the adoptive relationship with the abusive adoptive patent, and the
adjudication/conciliation case regarding the fulfillment of the obligation of support, etc.). (MOJ)(xv) Verification of measures relating to the protection of children who have suffered physical ormental damage
Regular verification and assessment of the implementation status of measures relating to theprotection of children who have suffered physical or mental damage as a result of having been a party
to child prostitution or having been depicted in child pornography shall be conducted so as to promotechild protection measures. (National Police Agency and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Based on Article 16-2 of the Act Against Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, the Special
Committee on Evaluating Protective Measures for Child Victims of Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography was established as a part of the Social Security Council’s Children Section Meeting.
(MHLW)In FY2019 Research Project for the Promotion of Child and Child Rearing Support, we conducted
the “research for a complete picture of the abuse of children placed in self-reliant support facilities
and regarding support strategies” in order to tackle cross-cutting issues. By conducting staff
surveys on the detection of sexual violence to children and by implementing training models on
support for children, we studied and made recommendations on more effective ways of finding
victimization and assistance. (MHLW)(xvi) Implementation of research study on child victims
A research study on the psychological characteristics of children that have become victims of “selfgenerated” crime shall be conducted, and the result shall be utilized in measures to prevent
victimization. (National Police Agency)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)46

An awareness-raising DVD for parents/guardians on how to prevent children from getting
involved in incidents, intended to be utilized for measures to prevent child victimization, wasproduced in collaboration with the public relations and awareness-raising project of the Japan
Police Support Association. (NPA)(xvii)Implementation of surveys on the actual situations of violent victimization, etc.
Conducting a survey to grasp the actual situation of victims including the victims of sexual crimes.
(Cabinet Office)
A survey on the actual state of the violence between men and women, such as experiences of
spousal violence is conducted every three years in order to appropriately address the changing
trend of victimization, which is linked to changes in the environment surrounding men and women.
In FY2017, in light of the revision of the Penal Code and other events, we conducted the survey
after revising the survey items and target demographics, for example, to include all persons
regardless of their sex, rather than only women, to answer a question about whether they havebeen victims of forced intercourse. The survey findings were released via the CAO website.
(CAO)(xviii) Consideration of a model of counseling and support system
Considering a sort of model of counseling and support for the victims of sexual exploitation among
young people though grasping the current situation of counseling and support for them. (Cabinet
Office)With the aim of enhancing the capacity to provide counseling concerning violence against womenamong young people, a counseling service utilizing SNS, which young people have an affinity for,is provided on a trial basis to facilitate the building and sharing of the know-how of effective
counseling and support for victims. (CAO)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)47

5. Strengthening of crackdowns in line with the situation of victimization and rehabilitationof offenders(i) Assistance in the establishment of ordinances prohibiting businesses focused on children as
sexual objects
In light of the current situation where businesses focused on children as sexual objects areconcentrated in regions where metropolitan areas are located, local governments that are planning toenact an ordinance prohibiting such businesses in line with the local situation shall be provided withappropriate advice from the related organizations that have specialized knowledge, including theeffectiveness of related ordinances. (National Police Agency, Cabinet Office, and Ministry of Justice)
The police provided the necessary and appropriate advice and information, such as the kinds ofpreviously enacted or amended ordinances and their effectiveness, to local governments that areplanning to amend the ordinances to regulate the “JK business.” As a result, as of March 2020,
seven prefectures (Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo) have enacted oramended the ordinances regulating the “JK business.” (NPA)
We provided information through publishing on the CAO website for measures against
environments harmful to young people when ordinances that regulate the “JK business” areenacted or put into effect by local governments. In this way, we worked to enhance the efforts ofrelevant agencies to fight juvenile delinquency and victimization and to facilitate awarenessraising among the public regarding the elimination of harmful environments for young people.
(CAO)(ii) Surveys contributing to consideration of the regulations regarding child pornography
Surveys on actual child pornography crimes in Japan shall continue to be carried out in order tocontribute to the consideration of regulations regarding child pornography. While surveys have been
carried out through diplomatic missions abroad concerning legislation on child pornography in G7
countries and other foreign countries, such surveys shall be continued with regard to trends concerning
legislation, and the survey results will be compiled regularly. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National
Police Agency, and Ministry of Justice)
Information was collected regarding developments in the formulation of laws, regulations, andstandards on child sexual exploitation in foreign countries and multinational frameworks, such as
the UN. (MOFA)An analysis of the state of victimization related to child pornography was conducted, and asummary regarding the state of child sexual exploitation in 2019 was compiled and released in* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)48

March 2020. (NPA)(iii) Strengthening of crackdowns on and strict punishment for crimes involving child sexual
exploitation
Crackdown on crimes of child sexual exploitation as offenses against the Act Against Child
Prostitution and Child Pornography, Child Welfare Act, juvenile protection ordinances, etc., shallbe strengthened. Regarding child pornography crimes, in particular, the National Police Agency
shall encourage joint investigation among multiple prefectural police headquarters so as to strictly
apprehend heinous child pornography offenders such as groups of younger child pornography
lovers, child pornography sales groups, and groups involving the use of file-sharing software.
The agency shall, by gathering and analyzing information on child pornography offenders,
identify and protect child victims, and arrest suspected producers to eliminate the source of supplyof child pornography. In addition, as for “offences involving the possession, etc. of childpornography for the purpose of satisfying one’s own sexual curiosity” with respect to which penal
provisions became effective in July 2015, the agency shall continue to ensure appropriate
application. Also, based on the Japan’s 2014 Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons strict
control for the eradication of trafficking in persons shall be promoted under collaboration among
related organizations. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet
Office, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Crackdowns were advanced on crimes of child sexual exploitation, such as violations of the Act
Against Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, Child Welfare Act, and juvenile protection
ordinances, etc. In 2019, 2,116 persons were arrested* in 3,059 child pornography cases, and
2,037 persons were arrested* in 2,629 cases of child prostitution, etc. (i.e., child prostitution, andcausing a child to commit an obscene act [Child Welfare Act], and lewd sexual acts, etc. [juvenile
protection ordinances]).
In addition, we arrested heinous child pornography offenders, such as groups that target young
children, child pornography sales groups, and groups involving the use of file-sharing software,by efforts such as encouraging joint investigation among multiple prefectural police headquarters.
(NPA)* The word “arrest” includes the meaning of “referring cases to the Public Prosecutor’s Offices
etc. without restraining suspects.”
Efforts shall be made to realize strict punishment for crimes of child sexual exploitation throughthe aggressive application of the Act Against Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and otherrelevant laws. (Ministry of Justice)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)49Based on the law and evidence, the prosecution has worked to realize strict punishment for crimesof child exploitation through aggressively using the Act Against Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography and other relevant laws and regulations, including that on the crime of “thepossession, etc. of child pornography for the purpose of satisfying one’s own sexual curiosity,”effective from July 2015. (MOJ)(iv) Grasping of the actual state of adult entertainment businesses and the promotion of
crackdowns on adult entertainment-related crimes
Considering vicious and illegal adult entertainment establishments that can become a hotbed of childsexual exploitation, efforts shall be made to grasp the actual state of illegal adult entertainment
establishments

throughon-the-spot

inspection,

etc.,

of

mainlythose

locatedinentertainment/amusement areas, and crackdowns on adult entertainment-related crimes shall bepromoted. (National Police Agency)
Efforts were made to grasp the actual state of illegal adult entertainment establishments throughon-the-spot inspection, etc., of mainly those located in entertainment/amusement areas, whilecrackdowns on adult entertainment-related crimes were also promoted. During 2019, 4,315
persons in 4,563 cases nationwide were arrested* in relation to adult entertainment-related crimes.
(NPA)* The word “arrest” includes the meaning of “referring cases to the Public Prosecutor’s Offices,
etc. without restraining suspects.”(v) Pursuit of criminal charges against vicious business operators
In the investigation of child pornography crimes using the internet, the police shall strengthen
guidance and warnings to website operators or server administrators whose services are used toprovide child pornography, and shall actively investigate related negligent business operators thatengage in illegal practices such as encouraging the posting of images of child pornography on thebulletin boards that they operate, all to pursue criminal charges against them. (National Police Agency)
In child pornography crimes using the internet, the police gave guidance and warnings to website
operators and the like whose services are used to provide child pornography and actively
investigated related negligent business operators and others that engage in illegal practices suchas encouraging the posting of images of child pornography to the bulletin boards that they operate,
all to pursue criminal charges against them. (NPA)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)50

(vi) Promotion of the activities of the Juvenile and Woman Aegis TeamAs for the act of accosting or following a child or woman, which is considered as a harbinger ofsexual crimes, the Juvenile and Woman Aegis Team (JWAT) established at the Metropolitan Police
Department and each prefectural police headquarters has been taking measures such as arrests,
guidance, and warnings to offenders identified through information-gathering and analysis. By
actively promoting these pre-emptive and preventive measures, the JWAT shall make efforts to prevent
sexual crimes against children and women. (National Police Agency)
In order to prevent sexual crimes against children and women, the JWAT established at theMetropolitan Police Department, and each prefectural police headquarters has been taking
measures such as arrests, providing guidance, or providing warnings to offenders identified
through information-gathering and analysis regarding acts of accosting or following a child or
woman, which is considered as a harbinger of sexual crimes, and has been actively promoting
these pre-emptive and preventive measures. (NPA)* NPA (National Police Agency), CAS (Cabinet Secretariat), CAO (Cabinet Office), MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications), MOJ (Ministry of Justice), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology), MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

51