Efforts on the “Basic Plan on Measures against
Child Sexual Exploitation”
From April 18, 2017 to March 31, 2018

May 25, 2018

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 general public
for the prevention of victimization through child prostitution and child pornography and for theprevention of the distribution of and access to images of child pornography on the internet ..... 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 the Childand the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Child on the sale of children, 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 awareness-raisingof 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 ................................ 12(x) Assistance for the awareness-raising activities of private organizations for the protection ofchildren ........................................................................................................................... 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” ......................................................................................................................... 16(xiv) Efforts during “Child Abuse Prevention Month” ............................................................ 17(xv) Strengthening collaboration with foreign investigative authorities and international mutual
legal assistance ................................................................................................................ 17(xvi) International dissemination of information on the Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual
Exploitation. .................................................................................................................... 18(xvii) Strengthening of international collaboration and the promotion of information dissemination
to international society through participation in international efforts .................................... 18
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(xviii) Participation in “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online”....................................................................................................................................... 19(xix) Holding of seminars concerning measures against child sexual exploitation ..................... 20(xx) Building of the platform for promoting international collaboration for the eradication of humantrafficking cases ............................................................................................................... 20(xxi) Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on thesale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (hereinafter referred to as “theProtocol”) and release of the information on domestic actions ............................................. 20
2. Support for children and families to ensure the sound growth of children without victimization
by sexual exploitation ...................................................................................................................22(i) Promotion of “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” under collaboration between the public
and private sectors ........................................................................................................... 22(ii) Implementation of awareness-raising activities for safe and secure internet use by children . 23(iii) Assistance for the establishment of a cooperative structure at the local level for the safe andsecure use of the internet by young people ......................................................................... 25(iv) Assistance in publicity and awareness-raising activities at the local and family level for theproper use of the internet by children................................................................................. 25(v) Enhancement of information morals education at schools .................................................. 26(vi) Development and publication of internet literacy indicators (ILAS) for the safe use of theinternet by young people .................................................................................................. 26(vii) Surveys for cleaning up harmful environments surrounding juveniles............................... 27(viii) Promotion of street guidance activities .......................................................................... 28(ix) Promotion of the activities of juvenile guidance commissioners for the sound development ofjuveniles.......................................................................................................................... 28(x) Support for delinquent juveniles, etc., at Juvenile Classification Homes ............................. 28(xi) Strengthening of assistance in cybercrime prevention volunteer activities .......................... 29(xii) Support for single-parent families .................................................................................. 29(xiii) Employment support for parents in single-parent families .............................................. 30(xiv) Employment support for youths .................................................................................... 31(xv) Support for poor persons ............................................................................................... 32
3. Promotion of measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of victimization that focuses ontools used for child sexual exploitation .......................................................................................33
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(i) Assistance in measures against such tools as taken by private organizations to protect children....................................................................................................................................... 33(ii) Assistance in voluntary efforts by mobile carries, third-party organizations, etc., to promote theuse of filtering services..................................................................................................... 33(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 .............. 34(iv) Assistance in consultation services concerning illegal/harmful information on the internet .. 34(v) Promotion of various measures toward improvement in the effectiveness of blocking .......... 35(vi) Measures for the business operators of online dating sites and community sites ................. 36(vii) Promotion of measures to prevent the distribution of and access to images of child pornography....................................................................................................................................... 37(viii) Operation of the Internet Hotline Center ....................................................................... 37(ix) Elimination of criminal organizations and illegal adult entertainment establishments inentertainment/amusement areas by nurturing an atmosphere encouraging crime prevention
volunteer activities ........................................................................................................... 37
4. Prompt protection of child victims and the promotion of appropriate support ....................39(i) Creation of a comfortable environment for children and their parents/guardians for consultations....................................................................................................................................... 39(ii) Reponses considering convenience for the person undergoing a consultation ...................... 40(iii) Appropriate handling of children’s rights issues ............................................................... 40(iv) Dissemination of the anonymous reporting program for the creation of a secure society ..... 40(v) Promotion of guidance for children involved in businesses focused on children as sexual objects....................................................................................................................................... 41(vi) Promotion of cyber guidance .......................................................................................... 41(vii) Support, etc., for children at Child Guidance Centers and local governments .................... 42(viii) Improvement of convenience for victims of sexual crimes in obtaining information ......... 42(ix) Enhancement of support for victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence ......................... 43(x) Promotion of the protection of trafficking victims ............................................................. 43(xi) Implementation of continuous support for child victims ................................................... 44(xii) Protection and support for women in need of protection under the women’s protection project....................................................................................................................................... 44(xiii) Provision of support at child welfare facilities ............................................................... 45
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(xiv) Support provided by the Japan Legal Support Center ..................................................... 46(xv) Verification of measures relating to the protection of children who have suffered physical ormental damage................................................................................................................. 47(xvi) Implementation of research study on child victims ......................................................... 48(xvii)Implementation of surveys on the actual situations of violent victimization, etc................ 48(xviii) Consideration of a model of counseling and support system.......................................... 48
5. Strengthening of crackdowns in line with the situation of victimization and rehabilitation of
offenders ........................................................................................................................................50(i) Assistance in the establishment of ordinances prohibiting businesses focused on children as
sexual objects .................................................................................................................. 50(ii) Surveys contributing to consideration of the regulations regarding child pornography ......... 50(iii) Strengthening of crackdowns on and strict punishment for crimes involving child sexual
exploitation ..................................................................................................................... 51(iv) Grasping of the actual state of adult entertainment businesses and the promotion of crackdowns
on adult entertainment-related crimes ................................................................................ 52(v) Pursuit of criminal charges against vicious business operators ........................................... 52(vi) Promotion of the activities of the Juvenile and Woman Aegis Team................................... 53(vii) Strengthening of collaboration among related organizations in efforts to implement interviews
with consideration of children’s psychological stress .......................................................... 53(viii) Protection of child victims of crimes in the process of investigations/public trials ............ 54(ix) Implementation of guidance on prevention of repeat sexual offenses in penal institutions ... 54(x) Implementation of guidance to prevent sexual delinquency at juvenile training schools ....... 55(xi) Implementation of a sexual offender treatment program at probation offices ...................... 56(xii) Operation of a system for measures to prevent repeat violent sexual crimes against children byreleased prisoners ............................................................................................................ 56
6. Strengthening of the foundation for realizing a society where children will never become
victims of sexual exploitation .......................................................................................................58(i) Awareness-raising of the child welfare-related officials that are likely to have contact with latentchild victims of sexual exploitation ................................................................................... 58(ii) Enhancement of the response capacity of school officials for the early detection of child victims
and the promotion of support activities .............................................................................. 58
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(iii) Implementation of training concerning care for sexually victimized children ..................... 59(iv) Strengthening of the support systems of the Japan Legal Support Center ........................... 59(v) Implementation of training for the promotion of information education .............................. 59(vi) Enhancement of investigative capacity for dealing with child sexual exploitation crimes .... 60(vii) Dissemination of questioning techniques with consideration of the psychological effect onchild victims .................................................................................................................... 60(viii) Enrichment of the contents of training for officials in charge of supporting child victims .. 60(ix) Implementation of training, etc., for public prosecutors .................................................... 61(x) Promotion of the deployment of school counselors, etc., for the early detection of child victims
and for support activities at school .................................................................................... 61(xi) Establishment of a counselling system for continuous support for child victims ................. 61(xii) Strengthening of the structure and specialization of Child Guidance Centers ..................... 62(xiii) Strengthening of the system to support women in need of protection under the women’s
protection project ............................................................................................................. 62

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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)“Conference for Promotion of Measures on Eradication of Child Sexual Exploitation” was heldon October 27, 2017. Along with reviewing the conference’s protocol and its action plan, a forum
for facilitating the exchange of opinion was also held. [National Police Agency](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 and7

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)

Production of public relations and public awareness-raising posters (in conjunction with the Japan
Committee for UNICEF and the ECPAT) to inform the general public that crimes of child sexual
exploitation, such as child prostitution or the production of child pornography, are heinous crimes
violating the human rights of children. These posters were posted onto the National Police
Agency’s website for the “Children and Young People’s Development Support Month” inNovember.
In addition, informational manga brochures were produced and distributed to educate junior highand high school students on the dangers of “self-generated” crime, as well as the distribution ofvideo content (using government internet TV), based on analytical results regarding the state ofchild victimization through child pornography (produced approximately 33,000 posters, and23,000 manga brochures on the dangers of “self-generated” crime). (National Police Agency)
Public relations and public awareness-raising materials were produced for preventing
victimization by so-called ‘JK businesses’. These were published on the National Police Agency’s
website, along with implementation of public relations and public awareness-raising activities byprefectural police departments during “Victimization Prevention Month for Forced Appearance inPornographic Materials and JK businesses” (April 2017; between April and December 2017:
3,839 public relations and public awareness-raising campaigns in commercial establishments andpublic spaces, 1,539 activities using mass media such as public information boards and websites,
150 activities using social networking sites). (National Police Agency)
Dissemination of the “Joint Message of the Chairman of National Public Safety Commission and
the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for Prevention of Child Sexual
Exploitation through Internet”. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology)
Approximately 30,000 educational campaign activities were implemented in 2017 throughjuvenile delinquency prevention classes, parent briefing sessions etc. (attended by approximately
360,000 guardians and 3.6 million children) by prefectural police departments as activities toprevent the criminal victimization of children through the use of internet. (National Police
Agency)8Leaflets were produced on the subject of preventing criminal victimization relating to the use of
online dating sites and social networking sites, and dissemination via prefectural police
departments to junior high and high school students, as well as making public available on the
National Police Agency’s website. In addition, it was distributed to major cellphone service
providers and used by these companies for raising-awareness activities. (National Police Agency)
On July 3, 2017, during the “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency andJuvenile Damage,” the “Public Symposium for Preventing Youth Crime and Victimization” washeld on the topic “For Rooting out Child Sexual Exploitation.” At the symposium, a university
professor gave a keynote address on “Sexual Exploitation and Support for Children,” before panel
discussions featuring police, the vice chairman of the Juvenile Education Organization, anduniversity professors, attended by an audience of approximately 190. (Cabinet Office)Participatory study symposia (“Net Moral Caravan”) were held for parents and legal guardians in
10 locations across Japan in conjunction with PTAs. The aim was to raise awareness of problems
including internet manners and sexual exploitation via the internet, and of the importance offamily rules on internet use (attended by approximately 3,000 parents and legal guardians).
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)(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 2018 edition of the Overseas Security Answer Book, the government warns Japanese
travelers against involvement with child sexual exploitation. Public awareness and educational
campaigns on this issue are promoted through the distribution of the Book to overseas travelers
via passport centers, travel agencies, the overseas safety website and safety seminars forcorporations, along with public awareness and educational campaigns. (Ministry of Foreign
Affairs)(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
9Police Agency through which information about government efforts for measures against child sexual
exploitation shall be provided. (National Police Agency)
A section for measures against child sexual exploitation was created on the National Police
Agency website, with the aim of raising public awareness by uploading content regarding the stateof arrests and damages related to child pornography, measures to prevent the exploitation, theseverity of child pornography, governmental efforts, and “Conference for Promotion of Measures
on Eradication of Child Sexual Exploitation”. (National Police Agency)(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)
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 theChild on the sale of children, etc., the government’s report to the Committee on the Rights of theChild, 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 having promoted
domestic public relations. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)(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 of10

Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Creation of posters and leaflets of measures against human trafficking with the aim to appeal tothe offense (demand) side of sexual exploitation etc., and distribution of those to local
governments, airports and seaports, universities and technical colleges, the Japan Association ofTravel Agents, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other organizations andgroups. (Cabinet Office)Creation of leaflets for reporting human trafficking damages, of which 268,600 copies were
distributed to prefectural police departments, embassies, NGOs and the like, as well as uploaded
to the National Police Agency’s website. In 2017 real estate groups were asked to post the sameleaflet and another, produced by the Cabinet Office, to bulletin boards in apartment buildings, aspart of an effort to make these leaflets available where victims can easily find them. (National
Police Agency)(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 implemented for:People in positions of authority with the opportunities to educate and inform young people
Local administrators in local governments responsible for education on and prevention ofviolence against women among young people
Private organizations active in the education on and prevention of violence against womenamong young people
The aim being to teach these groups the current state of violence against women among young
people and effective strategies for prevention and education. (Cabinet Office)Lectures were held to train health educators on fundamental perspectives in health counseling andguidance. Topics covered included means to comprehend psychological and physical health issues
and their causes, health guidance content, and basic ways of responding to children and parents
and legal guardians (245 participants). (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science andTechnology)
Based on the “Actions for proceeding measures on the Issues of So-called forced appearances in11

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.’), materials were created summarizing
information such as where students and others facing such problems can seek help. These were
distributed to 180 institutions of higher learning in Tokyo, and promoted to faculties anduniversities for use for guidance counseling and crime prevention education. (Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology)(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)
32,000 leaflets were created to provide information on sexual exploitation counseling and support
content in order to prevent the invisibility of damages by urging child victims and their parents orlegal guardians to report damages or to seek out counseling. These leaflets were distributed toprefectural police departments and relevant government authorities, and uploaded onto the
National Police Agency’s website. (National Police Agency)
In October 2017, as public relations and public awareness-raising activities to promote
information about the circumstances of victims of sexual crimes, to increase understanding of theneed for support, and to expand the breadth of support offered, a “National Forum on Support for
Crime Victims” was held in conjunction with institutions involved in crime victim support andprivate victim support groups, with the theme “For an Expansion of Support for Victims of Sexual
Crimes.” Approximately 500 people participated. (National Police Agency)(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)

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Access to information regarding project assistance for volunteer groups and researchers engaging
in research studies related to measures against child sexual exploitation or support activities forvictims, was improved by posting a link to “The Japan Foundation Center” website in the section
for measures against child sexual exploitation on the National Police Agency’s website. The
foundation website publishes summarizing information about the subsidy projects of privateorganizations. (National Police Agency)(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)
Participation in the following working groups of the Japan Safety Promotion Association, which
consider awareness-raising activities or research and study project, aiming to increase the internet
literacy of young people, and in the Executive Committee of the High School Students ITC
Conference (4 meetings in fiscal year 2017). In each meeting, offered advices regarding content
and direction based on the Act on Development of Internet Use Environment for Young People.
-Awareness Building Activities Working Group, Awareness Building & Public Relation
Committee (2 meetings in fiscal year 2017)-Research and Study Working Group, Research Committee (3 meetings in fiscal year 2017)(Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
Aiming for safe and secure internet usage by young people, the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
cooperated with communication-related organizations and others to organize the “e-Net Caravan”.
This consisted of educational lectures for juvenile students, their parents and legal guardians, andeducators (lectures held in fiscal year 2017: 2,309, attended by approximately 390,000).
In addition, beginning with fiscal year 2016, a new lecture which aims to raise understanding offilters against illegal and harmful content was instituted for parents/legal guardians and educatorson the content and setup of smartphone internet filters. The Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications has dispatched employees of the Regional Bureaus of Telecommunications and13other agencies as lecturers, and has cooperated in the evaluation of lecture content and materials,
as well as in the expansion of the lectures. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
In order to support efforts by private organizations, like the Conference for the Promotion of
Building a Safe Internet, we actively participated in task section meetings as an observer and in
exchanges of opinion. In addition, the Conference for the Promotion of Building a Safe Internet
was cooperated with to jointly hold a high-school student ICT conference. (Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry)(xi) Promotion of comprehensive measures to prevent victimization based on the Act on
Development of Internet Environment for Young People, 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 regarding Measures to Ensure Youth’s Safeand Secure Internet Use (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)
The “Evaluation Meeting on Maintaining an Internet Environment for Young People” was held in
April, June, September, and December 2017 and February 2018. (Cabinet Office)Research was conducted on problematic cases of internet use and an “internet trouble casecollection” was created summarizing methods for prevention of and responding to such cases.
This is published on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ website, along withinformation of the case collection and its use in all 47 prefectures and 1,742 municipalities.
(Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
In preparation for the early implementation of the Revised Act on Development of Internet
Environment for Young People, producers of devices with internet connectivity and developers ofoperating systems were informed of their obligations and urged to familiarize themselves withthem. (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)14

Holding of internet safety classes to support the raising of students’ and parents/legal guardians’
literacy regarding safe internet use (Fiscal year 2017: 91 classes, 7,100 attendees). (Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry)
In cooperation with relevant government agencies, a notice was issued to the Education
Committee on December 28 urging educators to participate in an internet safety class. (Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry)
Distribution of educational materials on safe internet use called “Important Facts about Internet
Use at Each Level of Growth” to various events. The materials were produced by the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry in 2015, (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)Support for efforts by social networking site operators to delete illegal and harmful content and tobuild a counseling infrastructure. This was done by urging cooperation between operators, NPOs,
and relevant government agencies. (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Production of leaflet for preventing criminal victimization related to theuse of online dating sites or social networking sites. (National Police Agency)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Dissemination of the “Joint Message of Chairman of the National Public
Safety Commission and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for
Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation through Internet.” (National Police Agency, Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Holding of lectures on juvenile delinquency prevention classes etc.
(National Police Agency)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Implementation of “Net Moral Caravan” (Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology)
Repeat mention 1 – (x): Implementation of “e-Net Caravan” (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)(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 period of the “Campaign for Eliminating Violence against Women” from November
11 to 25, 2017, expansion was planned for awareness-raising educational efforts regarding theimportance of women’s human rights, along with raising social consciousness regarding violence15against women. This was in cooperation and conjunction with local governments, women’sorganizations and other groups.
During fiscal 2017, Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree were lit up purple, based on the purple
ribbon, a symbol of rooting out violence against women, and light-ups were expanded to otherinstitutions nationwide. In addition, approximately 90,000 posters and leaflets were produced anddistributed to local governments and women’s groups, as well as private companies like Tokyo
Metro. (Cabinet Office)(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)
Considering the formulation of “Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation” on
the April, 2017, during the “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency andJuvenile Damage” in July, “Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation” was made an issue of thehighest priority. Relevant government authorities, local governments, and relevant organizations
cooperated to jointly implement focused educational efforts to raise public awareness. In addition,
during the “National Month for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Damage”
the Cabinet Office held a symposium with the theme “For Rooting out Child Sexual Exploitation”
and the “Forum for Building an Environment for Young People’s Internet Use” in 3 locations.
(Cabinet Office)During the “Children and Young People’s Development Support Month” in November 2017,“promoting efforts to protect children from crime and harmful environments” was made a priority
item, and various activities and projects were implemented by relevant government agencies, local
governments, and other relevant organizations. (Cabinet Office)Creation of approximately 60,000 posters to promote the “National Month for the Prevention ofJuvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Damage” which were distributed to relevant government
agencies, prefectures, prefectural police departments, and relevant organizations, with requests topost. In addition, the management companies of Pro Baseball and J-League, as well as the16management companies of baseball and soccer stadiums were asked to cooperate in promoting
the national month by using stadium screens and announcements during official games. (National
Police Agency)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Holding of public symposium on stopping youth crime and abuse (Cabinet
Office)(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, in
conjunction with the November 2017 “Child Abuse Prevention Month” a “Strategic Conference
to Stop Child Abuse” was held on November 22. Educational public-awareness posters (116,000
B2-format posters, 289,000 A3-format posters) and leaflets etc. (1.93 million leaflets, 32,200
flyers) were created and distributed among other coordinated cooperative efforts by local
governments, relevant organizations, and others, to promote educational and public-awarenesscampaigns. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(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)
Information regarding child pornography crimes committed by a Japanese national overseas wasshared with the Royal Thai Police, and due to investigative work by the Royal Thai Police, thesuspect was arrested. In addition, information received from foreign investigative authorities wasshared with prefectural police departments and promoted arrests actively. (National Police
Agency)17

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 states, 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 and Ministry ofForeign Affairs)
In criminal cases of child sexual exploitation, like child prostitution and child pornography, mutual
legal assistance requests by foreign authorities were actively responded. (Ministry of Justice)(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)“Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation” was translated into English, uploaded
to the National Police Agency’s website (in Japanese and English) and distributed to embassies inTokyo. It was also promoted at “the 35th Meeting of the Interpol Specialists Group on Crimes
Against Children” at Interpol headquarters in November 2017, “the 2nd Specialist Group Meetingon Child Sexual Exploitation", held by the National Police Agency in December 2017, and others.
(National Police Agency)
The English version of the plan was disseminated to relevant governments and organizations, andthe like via overseas diplomatic establishments. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police
Agency)(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
collaboration shall be strengthened by facilitating information exchange with countries around the18world, and thus the dissemination of information on our efforts shall be promoted. (National Police
Agency, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Through participation in “the 35th Meeting of the Interpol Specialists Group on Crimes Against
Children” held at Interpol headquarters in November 2017, information was exchanged withforeign investigative authorities and international cooperation strengthened, along with
dissemination of information regarding Japan’s efforts. (National Police Agency)
Regarding the ICPO International Child Sexual Exploitation database terminal instituted in March
2011, information sharing was promoted via said terminal among participating countries by
dispatching professionals to user instruction sessions held at ICPO headquarters in September,2017. (National Police Agency)(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)
Actively participating in the “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation
Online” by placing the Chairman of National Public Safety Commission as the cabinet ministerin charge. Participated in the “Agenda 2030 for Children: End Violence Solutions Summit”, heldin February 2018 in Sweden, and its workshops that the WePROTECT Global Alliance was incharge of, and strengthened international cooperation by furthering the sharing of information
with other countries. (National Police Agency)
In part because the “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online” isled by the United Kingdom, in the Japan-UK Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation publishedon the occasion of the Japan-UK summit meeting on August 31, 2017, “Combating serious andorganized crime, including modern slavery and online child sexual exploitation” was included as19

an area of cooperation. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
On February 14, 2018, Mr. Manabu Horii, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs,
participated in the “Agenda 2030 for Children: End Violence Solutions Summit” held in Sweden
as a representative of the Japanese government. He gave a speech during a workshop on protecting
children from online violence and abuse organized by the “WePROTECT Global Alliance to End
Child Sexual Exploitation Online” in the afternoon of the same day, showcasing public and private
Japanese efforts and reaffirming Japan’s will to end the online sexual exploitation of children.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)(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)
On December 2017, about 150 representatives from relevant government agencies, foreign
institutions, international institutions, private groups and others were invited to participate in the“2nd Specialist Group Meeting on Child Sexual Exploitation”. Information was exchanged
regarding activities by private groups to eliminate child sexual exploitation and advanced efforts
by foreign institutions and others. (National Police Agency)(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)
At the 14th Contact Point Meeting held in July 2017, relevant government institutions, foreignembassies of 12 countries in Tokyo, international organizations, and 13 NGOs sent 183
participants, who conducted debate on smooth processing of cases and information sharing for theswift protection of victims and arrests of foreign and domestic brokers involved in humantrafficking. (National Police Agency)(xxi) Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on20

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)
In June 2017, Japan submitted its 4th and 5th governmental reports regarding the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. The report focuses on progress of the implementation of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Child on
the sale of children, etc. in Japan between 2006 and 2016. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
On February 14, 2018, Mr. Manabu Horii, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs,
participated in the “Agenda for Children 2030: End Violence Solutions Summit”, held in Sweden,
as a representative of the Japanese government.
In his speech, he declared that Japan would become a pathfinding country in the Global
Partnership to Stop Violence against Children (GPeVAC) (i.e. a country that is committed toefforts to end violence against children within its borders) and announced plans to create a multistakeholders’ platform for deepening conversation in this field with representatives of civil society.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Based on the directive “About Strengthening the Measures on the Child Sexual Exploitation”(April 25, 2017 National Police Agency Bulletin No. 10, etc.), prefectural police departments were
instructed in meetings to thoroughly crack down on vicious child prostitution and childpornography cases, to implement reliable support for child victims, and to conduct public relations
and public awareness-raising activities for preventing victimization. (National Police Agency)
Information regarding Japanese efforts was actively disseminated to the international community,
for example by uploading an English-language version of the “Basic Plan on Measures Against
Child Sexual Exploitation” and Japan’s efforts in English to the website of the National Police
agency. (National Police Agency)21

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)
As in previous years, the initiative “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” was implemented in2017 from February to May. Based on a case of murder and abandoning a corpse in Zama City,
Kanagawa Prefecture, “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” was begun early and extended,from December 2017 to May 2018, in order to strongly promote education activities with anemphasis on promoting the use of internet filters and raising internet literacy. (Cabinet Office)Based on the case in Zama City, a leaflet titled “Children Are Being Targeted!” featuring recent
criminal incidents was created in December 2017. It was published on the National Police
Agency’s website, and distributed to parents and legal guardians via prefectural police
departments, to prevent criminal victimization of children through the use of internet. (National
Police Department)
Beginning in December 2017, the initiative “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” wasimplemented in cooperation with relevant government agencies and private operators. The
initiative was focused on various efforts to promote the use of internet filters and to raise internet
literacy. As part of the initiative, business operators were asked to inform customers about internet
filters and to rigorously apply them, while parents and legal guardians were also urged torigorously supervise such filters.
In addition, in cooperation with relevant organizations, especially Regional Bureaus of
Telecommunications, leaflets and the like were distributed in public or during school entrance
ceremonies, while local media were informed regarding reporting on such matters. Furthermore,
beginning in January 2018, an alliance of relevant government agencies has distributed 400,000
22copies of education materials for parents and legal guardians to cellphone service providers as
informational materials in shops and the like. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
Efforts from the preceding year were commenced earlier as part of the “Spring Safety Net / New
Term Action” initiative, which promotes more forceful efforts in educational activities and thelike, focusing on promoting the use of internet filters and raising internet literacy. Notices weresent out on November 29 to faculty committees and others, asking to educate students in schoolon safe and secure use of smartphones etc. during the period of simultaneous emergency action
from December to May. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Concerned business operators and organizations were asked for their cooperation in displaying
posters and distributing leaflets in stores about the use of internet filters and information regarding
the Revised Act on Development of Internet for Young People. (Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry)(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” (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Awareness-raising activities using the booklet covering the issue of revenge pornography
victimization and child pornography victimization through community sites and SNS shall bepromoted. (Ministry of Justice)With the goal to stop human rights violations on the internet, an awareness-raising video andbrochure were created for junior high and high school students and their parents or legal guardians,
and these materials are delivered via the internet and using social networking sites. (Ministry ofJustice)23

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 (approximately 200 participants) and national convention(approximately 17,000 participants) of the Japan PTA National Conference and the National HighSchool PTA Federation, educational materials (“Wait a Second! Information for the Smartphone
Generation”) for proper smartphone use and for stopping child sexual exploitation based oninternet use were distributed and promoted. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology)
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 and legal guardians regarding the inherent dangers of children’s internet
use and measures to prevent criminal victimization of children, in January 2018 the educational
leaflet “STOP! Internet Crimes” on preventing criminal victimization of children related tointernet use was created, published on the National Police Agency’s website, and distributed toparents/guardians via prefecture police departments. (National Police Agency)
Repeat mention 1 - (ii): Production of leaflet for preventing criminal victimization related to theuse of online dating sites and social networking sites. (National Police Agency)
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)In November 2017, educational materials were created and published, in cooperation with relevant
government agencies, for parents and legal guardians to promote young people’s safe and secure
24internet use. (Cabinet Office)(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 fiscal 2017, the “Forum for the Creation of the Internet Use Environment for the Youth” washeld as a project to support local cooperation regarding young people’s internet use in threelocations nationwide: Kagoshima Prefecture in July and Fukui and Aomori Prefectures in
November, with a total attendance of approximately 500. (Cabinet Office)(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 given to “School Internet Patrol” for early detection and response to internet bullying,project implemented by prefectures and government ordinance cities. The aim is to build support
structures for responding to and solving problems like bullying (total of 18 local governments).
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Via the Comprehensive Project for Promoting Support for Education at home in Local
Communities, support was given to lectures for parents and legal guardians concerning thedangers and appropriate use of cellphones and the internet during school entrance health25

examinations, parents’ meetings, and visitation days. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology)
Support was given by local governments and private organizations in 5 locations nationwide via
the “Community Support Project for Internet-related Measures” for the training of internet literacy
counselors and for building counseling infrastructure on the internet and elsewhere focused oninternet-related problems. The project supports progressive efforts regarding information andeducation about safe and secure internet use in local areas. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology)(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 and forums on information morals education for educators and the like were held in 6
locations nationwide. Educational materials for children and students were created and of one
copy of each distributed to all primary, junior high, and high schools, and additionally to all firstyear junior high school students. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology)
In June 2017, the leaflet “To All about to Go on their Summer Vacation: The Internet is Full ofDangers” was jointly created by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology and the National Police Agency. It features concrete criminal cases and methods.
The leaflet was then published on the websites of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology and the National Police Agency. A public announcement and requests
were made via faculty committees for distribution to juvenile students and parents and legal
guardians. In addition, the leaflet was distributed to juvenile students at juvenile delinquency
prevention classes conducted by each prefectural police departments. (Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, National Police Agency)(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
26

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)
A test was developed to visualize the ability of young people to respond to dangers and threats on
the internet and the state of this ability. It was implemented alongside a survey on young people’s
use of information transmission devices (smartphones and the like). From 2012, the results wereanalyzed and aggregated into an index for the safe and secure use of the internet by young people(ILAS: Internet Literacy Assessment indicator for Students). From July to December 2017
approximately 17,200 first-year high-school students were tested in 95 schools nationwide, andthe aggregated, analyzed, and compared results were published in April 2018. (Ministry ofInternal Affairs and Communication)(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 promptly and appropriately respond to situation where ‘JK businesses’ emerge one
after another by changing its business models, in September 2017 and March 2018 status survey
were carried out into new types of businesses focused on children’s sexuality. (National Police
Agency)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 submit half-yearly reports on matters necessary
to understand properly about criminal victimization of children arising on online dating sites andsocial networking sites, and to create measures to prevent victimization of children. (National
Police Agency)
27

(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)
Promotion of street guidance activities in prefectural police departments in cooperation withjuvenile police volunteers, resulting in the guidance of 476,284 delinquent juveniles in 2017.
(National Police Agency)(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)
Legal training of juvenile guidance commissioners was implemented in prefectural police
departments, and improvement of the commissioner’s knowledge and skills by e.g. providing
support for information sharing regarding the state of juvenile delinquency and amusementbusinesses, along with promotion of the commissioner’s activities for the sound development ofjuveniles. (National Police Agency)(x) Support for delinquent juveniles, etc., at Juvenile Classification Homes
As part of the community assistance service of Juvenile Classification Homes 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 part of the community assistance service in Juvenile Classification Homes, cooperation wasorganized with relevant institutions and implementation of support for delinquent youths and their28

families, with the aim of stopping juvenile delinquency and enabling their rehabilitation. (Ministryof Justice)(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)In order to promote activities for stopping child abuse arising on social networking sites (SNS),the “Manual for Cybercrime Prevention Volunteer Activities” was revised in May 2017 by adding
passages regarding cyber patrol on SNS and reporting inappropriate comments to the site
administrators. Copies of the manual were sent to the prefectural police departments and it was
published on the National Police Agency’s website. In November 2017, certificates ofappreciation were presented to 20 groups in 10 prefectures for the work as cybercrime prevention
volunteers actively reporting inappropriate comments to SNS operators. (National Police Agency)(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)29Based on the Project to Assist in the Self-reliance of Families Including Single-parent Families
and Families with Multiple Children, implementation of expansion of comprehensive support
strategies for single-parent families, centered on the following:(i) The additional amount of child-rearing allowance beginning with the second child 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) The payment period of subsidies for the promotion of advanced vocational training was raised
from two to three years beginning in fiscal 2016. In addition, the training period in training
institutions was lowered from at least two years to at least one year, expanding the number of
eligible qualifications.
(iii) Beginning in fiscal 2014, consultation counters for single-parent families were expanded toprovide one-stop services ranging from matters of child-rearing and daily life to finding workby adding vocational support specialists. This is in addition to the established mother-child andfather-child self-sufficiency support workers. Furthermore, the provision of comprehensive
counseling regarding the diverse problems faced by single parents during times such as thesubmission period of the child-rearing allowance status notification (August each year) startingfrom 2016.
(iv) Projects supporting children in daily life and school that assist in the acquisition of basic life
skills and provide learning support and food, while also providing counseling in children’s
welfare facilities for children from single-parent families after the hours of after-school clubs,
were implemented beginning in fiscal 2016. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)Legislative proposals for raising the number of child-rearing allowance payments from three times
per year to six, beginning with the November 2019 payments were submitted to the 2018 ordinary
session of the Diet. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(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 small
30

children 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 thathave employed parents in single-parent families shall be entitled to receive an additional amountof Career Development Subsidy for employers that have employed fixed-term contract workers
as regular employees and trial employment incentive payments for employers that have provided
a certain 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)
Regarding vocational support provided at Hello Work (public employment security office), Hello
Work consultation counters were installed in municipal welfare offices, expanded from 194 to 204
locations. This was with the aim of reaching a broad range of persons in difficulty, including
welfare recipients and recipients of the child-rearing allowance.
At Hello Work for Mothers, comprehensive consistent support is provided for job seekers withsmall children to assist them with finding work again. Vocational support is provided in particularfor parents in single-parent families after the number of support specialists was increased (from21 in fiscal 2016 to 26 in 2017). (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
The payment of subsidies for employment development of designated job seekers for employers
hiring parents in single-parent families was continued. In addition, support via employmentrelated subsidies was expanded. For example, the amount of subsidies for the employment of
parents in single-parent families was increased such as the Career Development Subsidy for
employers that have employed fixed-term contract workers as regular employees, or trial
employment subsidy for employers hiring job seekers who have difficulties finding in
employment on a trial basis for a certain period. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(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)31

Detailed vocational support was implemented at Hello Work New Graduate Support and YouthHello Work for recent graduates and young contract workers (“freeters”) looking for employment.
(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)Consultation and support was implemented for vocational independence at regional youth support
stations. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(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)
For the further expansion of the “Learning-assistance Service for Children from Poor
Households,” support was broadened for efforts by executive municipalities to strengthen
cooperation in building connections and regularly sharing information between welfare
agencies and schools and academic offices like faculty committees which understand children’s
circumstances, in fiscal 2017. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)32

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)
In July 20 the “Conference for Development of Internet Environment for Young People” wasfounded, which consists of 15 social networking site operators (18 operators are participating asof April 2018). It promotes autonomous child victimization prevention efforts such as information
sharing between participating operators, research and public-awareness efforts. The National
Police Agency also actively participates in the planning of the conference and provides
information regarding child victimization cases and damage trends. Meetings are held generally
once a month. (National Police Agency)
Sharing of information useful for the moderation of mobile contents and the protection and soundraising of children with the Content Evaluation and Monitoring Association (EMA). (National
Police Agency)
Repeat mention 1 – (x): Implementation of “e-Net Caravan” (Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications)(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
33

tackled, thereby promoting voluntary efforts by mobile carriers and third-party organizations
concerned with filtering approval. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
Repeat mention 2 - (i): Implementation of “Spring Safety Net / New Term Action” (Ministry ofInternal Affairs and Communications)(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)
Participated in the liaison conference on measures for illegal information and gave support in theproper application of the Guidelines on Measures for Illegal Information on the Internet and theModel Contract Articles on Measures for Illegal/Harmful Information. (Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications)(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)34Based on various guidelines, a consultation center for illegal and harmful information has been
established, which counsels private individuals and providers on how to respond to particularcases involving illegal or harmful information on the internet. This is in order to strengthen thefight by providers and others against illegal and harmful information on the internet. (Ministry ofInternal Affairs and Communications)(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)
It is important to ensure that the application of blocking child pornography websites does not
unduly interfere with internet users’ privacy in their communications and their freedom of
expression, and the plan supports the autonomous introduction and application of blocks byproviders. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)Support was given to private autonomous efforts by sharing necessary information and advice
with private associations like the Conference for Promoting Building a Safe Internet, the Expert
Committee for Measures to Stop the Spread of Child Pornography, and the Internet Content Safety
Association. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
The Internet Content Safety Association, which compiles a list of addresses to which child35

pornography is uploaded, was established in March 2011. Beginning in April of that year, some
ISPs began blocking such sites autonomously. As of January 1, 2018, the child pornography
address list has been shared with 73 ISPs, 4 telecom groups, 3 search engine operators, and 2 filter
operators. The plan supports this effort so that measures to stop the spread of child pornography
can be taken. (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
The Internet Hotline Center, the IHC, which is commissioned to a private organization by the NPA,
reports illegal contents such as child pornography images internet users notified the IHC of to thepolice or INHOPE. The police and INHOPE respectively received 377 and 531 reports of childpornography images in the first half of 2017. (National Police Agency)(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)
Information regarding the reality of child victimization is being shared with major online datingsite business operators, and especially for so-called “en-deri,”, which is a form of organized,
mediated prostitution in the guise of individual “enjo kosai” (patronage dating), major online
dating site business operators are requested to strengthen measures to eliminate them. In addition,
via the Japan Interactive Advertising Association, efforts were implemented to make thoroughly
clear the prohibition of child use of these sites in internet advertisements. (National Police
Agency)In addition to supporting the activities of the “Conference for Maintaining an Internet Use
Environment for Young People”, which consists of major social networking site business
operators, information regarding the reality of child victimization was individually shared with
operators not participating in the conference, and efforts were implemented to strengthen
autonomous measures to prevent damages corresponding to the scale of operators and the form of36

their services. (National Police Agency)(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
Hotline Center. (National Police Agency)
The police collected illegal contents, such as child pornography uploaded on the internet, throughcyber patrol and reports by the Internet Hotline Center or the anonymous reporting program. The
police or the Internet Hotline Center requested the site administrators to delete the illegal contents.
There were 131 deletion requests by the Internet Hotline Center during the first half of 2017.
(National Police Agency)(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)Repeat mention 3 - (v): Reporting illegal contents such as child pornography images to relevantorganizations (National Police Agency)(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 in37

entertainment/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)
Crime prevention patrols were promoted by volunteer groups through prefectural police
departments and the efforts listed below were promoted in cooperation with shopping districts andmunicipal governments.
Comprehension of the reality of criminal organization, illegal adult entertainment establishments
and criminal infrastructure in entertainment/amusement areas was progressed. The dismantling ofcrime infrastructure and dissolution of criminal organizations and illegal adult entertainment
establishments in consideration of continued results of crackdowns was promoted. Information
was distributed to shopping districts and municipalities regarding the importance of resolving thesituation that empty buildings and stores are repeatedly used by illegal adult entertainment
establishments as criminal infrastructure and securing the shopping districts and municipalities’
understanding.
Instruction was given to real-estate brokers, owners of buildings and apartments, managementcompanies, and shopping districts on how to exclude criminal organizations and illegal adultentertainment establishments from real-estate contracts. This is to promote the prevention of theestablishment of organized crime offices and illegal adult entertainment establishments in empty
buildings and stores by crackdowns in entertainment/amusement areas, apartment buildings intheir vicinity and the like, as well as the eviction of such organizations after move-in. (National
Police Agency)

38

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 69,932 inquiries from children or their parents or legal
guardians in 2017 and provided necessary advice and guidance in person or by phone. In addition,
the National Police Agency is using media, like its website and leaflets, to announce of email
consultations and of the “Young Telephone Corner,” a telephone consultation service byprefectural police departments. (National Police Agency)
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)
Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus provide human rights counseling in all
matters of human rights issues, including sexual exploitation of children. In addition, the Ministryof Justice operates the toll-free telephone consultation service “Children’s Rights Hotline” and theinternet human-rights consultation service “SOS e-mail”. Efforts have also been made to distributethe “Children’s Rights SOS Mini-Letters” (postcard and envelope for human rights counseling)39

to elementary and junior high school students throughout the country. (Ministry of Justice)
The week from June 26, 2017 to July 2 was designated as “Nationwide ‘Children’s Rights Hotline
Promotion Week,” and during this time opportunities for counseling were expanded by extending
consultation hours on weekdays and adding consultations on Saturdays and Sundays. Furthermore,
the Ministry of Justice has advertised these consultation services on its website and also promotes
their existence by distributing general brochures and leaflets listing them. (Ministry of Justice)(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)
Reponses considering convenience for the person undergoing a consultation were made byproviding appropriate advice and information, or by handing over inquiries to other appropriate
administrative agencies when necessary, while responding to consultations regarding child sexual
exploitation at juvenile consultation. (National Police Agency)(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 of possible human rights violations recognized during consultations, investigations were
undertaken and appropriate measures were implemented depending on the case, such as
cooperation between police, Child Guidance Centers and relevant agencies to protect the abusedchild (or children). (Ministry of Justice)(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
40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)
Prefectural police departments promoted public awareness through various activities, such as
crime-prevention events and measures against entertainment/amusement areas, and internet-based
public awareness was promoted by putting up link banners, on not only the websites of the
National Police Agency and prefectural police headquarters, but also the websites of individual
police stations and relevant administrative agencies. (National Police Agency)(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.
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)
Some prefectural police departments designated an act of working for ‘JK businesses’ as subject
to correction guidance, and provided guidance and protection for 46 children between April and
December 2017. (National Police Agency)(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)
41

Prefectural police expanded cyber guidance efforts and provided guidance to 899 children in 2017,to protect children from crimes involving personal welfare caused by the use of the internet andto promote their sound development. (National Police Agency)(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)
Educational materials for raising public awareness, such as posters and the like listing thenationwide Child Guidance Center Hotline (189), were created during “Child Abuse Prevention
Month” (116,000 B2-format posters, 289,000 A3-format posters, 1.93 million leaflets, and 32,200
flyers). These were distributed to municipalities, relevant government agencies and relevantorganizations. The materials make clearly outline ways to anonymously report child abuse. In
addition, to make the nationwide Child Guidance Center hotline (189) more convenient for callers,a call-center model, in which operators (rather than automated voice guidance) respond to callsfrom cellphones, was introduced on February 1, 2018. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(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
42

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 (Heart-san)), which connects to sexual crime victim hotlines ofprefectural police departments in order to make it easier for sexual crime victims to seek help fromthe police, began operating in August 2017. In addition, efforts were made to help sexual crime
victims that do not want to take legal action to 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 crime
victims, after carefully explaining to the victim the content of supports that the group can provide
and that the victim’s secret is protected. (National Police Agency)(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 January and February 2018, implementation of 4 training sessions for counselors at
support organizations helping sexual crime victims (e.g. the gender equality planning center orthe one-stop support center for victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence) and employees of
local governments for establishing infrastructure that enables sexual crime victims and others tosafely receive necessary counseling and support. (Cabinet Office)In order to promote efforts to provide support for victims of sexual crimes or sexual violence whohave utilized a prefectural one-stop support center, in fiscal 2017 the “Support Grant for Victimsof Sexual Crimes and Sexual Violence” was created. During fiscal 2017, 6 prefectures opened
one-stop support centers for victims of sexual crimes and sexual violence and 42 prefectures now
have a total of 42 such centers. (Cabinet Office)(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
43

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)Promotion of accurate identification of victims and proper protection in conjunction with relevant
institutions and NGOs. Police consultation hotlines and anonymous reporting hotlines are
responding to consultation and reports in ways that won’t overlook human trafficking crimes.
(National Police Agency)(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 implemented continuous support for child victims, by providing
child victims with the counseling of juvenile guidance officials etc., who have knowledge
regarding the character and the psychology of children and counseling skills, while receiving
advice from experts in psychology and the like, or by coordinating family environments inconjunction with relevant institutions. (National Police Agency)
In fiscal 2017 efforts were made to improve counseling system at schools by appropriately placing
school counselors to help children with their mental health care and school social workers toprovide support by improving the various circumstances children find themselves in. This is sothat the concerns voiced by children, including victims of child sexual exploitation, can beproperly responded to. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)(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 to44

assist 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)
Items (i) and (ii) below were newly implemented in 2017, while the previously implemented item(iii) was continued.
(i) Expansion of vocational support for women in protective facilities by making provision of
travel expenses needed by said women possible, and by accompanying them in job-seeking
activities.
(ii) In order to advance the evaluation for revision of projects providing protection for women,such as women’s counseling centers, research to gather facts regarding the content of support
was undertaken.
(iii) Model projects were implemented to provide support for female victims of abuse who had
sought help at domestic violence shelters in independent living and establishing a new life after
leaving the shelter. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(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 the45

provision of information
The steady enforcement of these provisions shall be ensured. (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare)Items (i) and (ii), which were implemented before and are still in practice, while items (iii) and(iv) were newly implemented in fiscal 2017.
(i) Project to manage support centers for children and families
Counseling and support in conjunction with Child Guidance Centers, municipalities, andrelevant institutions in foster homes, infant homes, child psychotherapeutic institutions,children’s self-reliance support facilities, maternal and child support facilities, and Child andFamily Support Centers for children who have suffered physically or mentally due to abuse,including sexual abuse or child pornography. (Number of Child and Family Support Centers:
122, as of October 2017)(ii) Assignment of designated psychotherapy professionals
Designated psychotherapists were assigned and provide psychotherapy for children who havesuffered psychological harm from abuse.
(iii) Support project for foster parents
Promotion of the foster parent system through finding new foster parents, matching foster
parents and children, determining support strategies for the self-reliance of foster children, andcounseling and support after taking in a foster child and regarding adoption. (Results in 2017:
implementation in all prefectures, designated cities, and cities with Child Guidance Centers)(iv) Support project for social nursing and self-reliance
Project to allow individuals who were previously entrusted to foster parents or foster homes,
but were released from care when they reached age 18 (in the case of an extension: age 20), tocontinue to receive necessary support until age 22, as a rule. (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare)(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 abuse46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 Japan Legal Support Center(the “JLSC”) has provided information on legal systems and consultation centers, and referral tolawyers who are well-versed in supporting victims of crime, by its staff dedicated to supporting
victims of crime.
Also, as aid services entrusted by the Japan Federal of Bar Associations, for victims who are notfinancially capable, the JLSC has provided assistance in paying for attorneys' fees for legal
services such as assistance in reporting the incidents to the police, submission of criminal
complaints and negotiations for settlements in criminal proceedings, etc.
In addition, under the Partial Revision of the Comprehensive Legal Support Act, the JLSC has
started providing victims of child abuse with legal consultation necessary for the prevention of
victimization, regardless of their financial capacities. (Ministry of Justice)(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 the provisions of Article 16-2 of the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Acts Relating
to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children, the Council for the
Promotion of Policies for Crime Victims, held on March 30, 2016, verified and assessed theimplementation status of measures relating to the protection 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 that was carried out from July 15, 2014(the date of enforcement of
the Act for Partial Revision of the Act) until the end of fiscal 2015 by government agencies.
(National Police Agency)
Based on the second clause of Article 16 of the Act Against Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography, the “special committee on evaluating protective measures for child victims of childprostitution and child pornography” was instituted in June 2017 as part of the Social Security
Council’s Children Section meeting. Measures to be evaluated based on the Social Security
Council’s specialist knowledge include measures based on the Child Welfare Act, which constitute47

the primary protective measures for abused children. In order to solve issues common to multiple
measures, it was also decided to conduct “research for a complete picture of the abuse of children
placed in self-reliant support facilities and regarding support strategies.” (Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare)(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)
In order to utilize in strategies designed to suppress the “self-generated” crimes, a “survey onawareness of self-generated” crimes” was undertaken, with one group of children who had
suffered from self-generated” crimes and one group of children who had not. (National Police
Agency)(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)In order to respond appropriately to changing abuse trends, which is linked to changing
environments surrounding men and women, a survey regarding the reality of violent abuse
between men and women, including violence by a spouse, is carried out once every 3 years. In
fiscal 2017, based on changes to the criminal code, the “fiscal 2017 survey on violence between
men and women” was carried out after adjusting various survey items and target demographics,
such as asking not only women, but respondents independent of their sex, whether they have been
victims of forced intercourse. (Cabinet Office)(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)For the expansion of support for victims of sexual violence among young people,
comprehension of the reality of abuse and the state of support for victims was achieved by48

collecting information on cases of abuse, followed by deliberations on effective forms ofcounseling and support based on the victims’ needs. (Cabinet Office)49

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 National Police Agency appropriately provided necessary advice and information regarding
the content and effectiveness of previously enacted or amended ordinances to local governmentsthat are planning to amend ordinances regulating the activities of ‘JK businesses’. In addition, theNational Police Agency informed and instructed at meetings involving representatives ofprefectural police etc., to advance such efforts in mainly local governments encompassing large
cities. As of March 2018, 5 prefectures (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo) have enacted
or amended ordinances regulating ‘JK businesses’ (National Police Agency)
The Cabinet Office on its website for measures against environments harmful to young people
provides information for municipalities that have established or applied ordinances regulating theactivities of ‘JK businesses’, which commercialize children’s sexuality, in order to bolster theefforts of relevant agencies to fight youth delinquency and abuse and to raise public awarenessregarding the elimination of harmful environments for young people. (Cabinet Office)(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 trends towards regulation or establishment of standards on
the sexual exploitation of children in foreign countries or multinational contexts such as the UN.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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In March 2018, a summary was compiled regarding the current state of child sexual exploitationin 2017. (National Police Agency)(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 of child pornography
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 theeradication of trafficking in persons shall be promoted under collaboration among relatedorganizations. (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. In 2017, 1,703 persons were arrested (*) in 2,413 child pornography cases, and it was
the highest number on record. In total 2,057 persons were arrested (*) in 2,580 cases of childprostitution etc. (child prostitution, causing a child to commit an obscene act (Child Welfare Act),
lewd sexual acts etc. (juvenile protection ordinances)).
In addition, efforts were made to apprehend heinous child pornography offenders, such as groupsof younger children pornography lovers, child pornography sales groups, and groups involving
the use of file-sharing software, by encouraging joint investigation among multiple prefectural
police etc. (National Police Agency)* 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 through51

the aggressive application of the Act Against Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and otherrelevant laws. (Ministry of Justice)
In cases of child sexual exploitation, prosecutors have made efforts to realize strict punishment
through the aggressive application of the Act Against Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
and other relevant laws, including “offences involving the possession of child pornography forthe purpose of satisfying one’s own sexual curiosity,” which became effective in July 2015..
(Ministry of Justice)(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

throughonthe-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 throughonthe-spot inspection, etc., of mainly those located in entertainment/amusement areas, whilecrackdowns on adult entertainment-related crimes were also promoted. During 2017, 4,638
persons in 4,824 cases nationwide, were arrested (*) in relation to adult entertainment-related
crimes. (National Police Agency)* 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 instructed or warned website operators
whose services are used to provide child pornography, and also actively investigate related
negligent business operators that engage in illegal practices such as encouraging the posting of52

images of child pornography to the bulletin boards that they operate, to pursue criminal charges
against them. (National Police Agency)(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)
As for the act of accosting or following a child or woman, which is considered as a harbinger ofsexual crimes, the JWAT established at the Metropolitan Police Department and each prefectural
police headquarters took measures such as arrests, guidance, or warnings to offenders identified
through information-gathering and analysis. By actively promoting these pre-emptive andpreventive measures, the JWAT made efforts to prevent sexual crimes against children and women.
(National Police Agency)(vii) Strengthening of collaboration among related organizations in efforts to implement
interviews with consideration of children’s psychological stress
In order to reduce the burden on children for cases involving children as victims, the organizations
concerned such as prosecutors, the police, and child guidance centers will establish a contact point for
day-to-day and close information exchange and will promote the use of the contact point in discussing
appropriate approach such as interview by one representative of the organizations concerned based on
the discussion among those in charge from each organization held prior to the interview. (Ministry ofJustice, National Police Agency, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)In the efforts by the Ministry of Justice, National Police Agency, and Ministry of Health, Labourand Welfare, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the police, and child guidance centers cooperated
with each other to hold conferences before questioning child victims and actively deliberated on
the representative of the relevant institutions conducting questioning. Factors taken into thedecision making process were; the place, number of times, methods etc. when questioning childvictims. (Ministry of Justice, National Police Agency, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)53

(viii) Protection of child victims of crimes in the process of investigations/public trials
Efforts shall be made to make widely known the system that requires that the residence or otherinformation of the witness not be known to persons concerned during the discovery of evidence
proceedings and the system that requires that, regarding child victims of certain crimes, the name,address, or other information that could lead to the identification of the victim not be disclosed at the
public trial, along with enhancing awareness of public prosecutors regarding these systems. Also,
measures to protect crime victims in court, such as permission for the witness to be accompanied bysomeone of trust, the screening of the witness, use of video links, etc., shall be widely known andoperated more properly. (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice and the Public Prosecutor’s Office are undertaking efforts to make thesystem for non-public disclosure work more effectively. The idea being, by the ruling of court, thenames, addresses or other information of victims that would permit their identification is kept
private. Additionally, the system introduced by the 2016 revised Code of Criminal Procedure thatallows prosecutors when disclosing evidence to require defense lawyers not to reveal the nameand other information of the victim to the accused.
Furthermore, during training for prosecutors, lectures have been added regarding the protectionof private information of crime victims and the protection and support of crime victims.
During 2017, including cases where children served as witnesses, measures were taken to protect
victims during witness testimony include a total of 78 witnesses who were accompanied during
their testimony, 1,105 witnesses who were shielded from view during their testimony, and 225
witnesses who testified via video.**The above numbers until 2016 were calculated based on the day of the court’s ruling, but from2017 calculated based on the day a trial concluded (Trials which the court made a ruling before
the end of 2016, but concluded in 2017 were considered based on the day of the court’s ruling).
Due to the change in calculation method, the numbers for 2017 have temporarily decreased.
(Ministry of Justice)(ix) Implementation of guidance on prevention of repeat sexual offenses in penal institutions
At penal institutions, inmates that have cognitive distortion or lack of self-control that may result in
forcible indecency, rape, or a similar crime, or a crime involving harming the life or body of anotherperson for the purpose of satisfying their own sexual urges, shall be provided with guidance on
prevention of repeat sexual offenses, consisting of group work based on the method of cognitive
behavioral therapy, etc. In order to ensure the effective implementation of such guidance, the system
54

for providing guidance and the method of selecting the inmates to receive guidance shall be improved
based on the verification of the effects of past treatment. (Ministry of Justice)
19 penal institutions implemented guidance for the prevention of sexual crime relapses. In
addition, In order to contribute to the efficacy of such guidance, a risk assessment tool to gauge
the extent of a participant’s risk of relapse and how problematic a relapse would be was revised
and the selection methods for participants expanded. (Ministry of Justice)(x) Implementation of guidance to prevent sexual delinquency at juvenile training schools
Among the juveniles that have been committed to a juvenile training school due to a delinquent act
that constitutes sexual delinquency (e.g. gang rape, rape at the scene of a robbery, rape, forcible
indecency, public indecency, kidnapping for the purpose of indecency, etc.) or that does not constitutethe same but that has been triggered by a sexual motive (e.g. sexually motivated theft or injury, or aviolation of the nuisance prevention ordinance, i.e., groping or camera voyeurism), those that havecognitive distortion or lack of self-control that may result in sexual delinquency shall be provided ateach juvenile training school with comprehensive guidance to prevent sexual delinquency, which
consists of group work or individual guidance using a workbook at the core, combined with guidanceon personal relationships, guidance on understanding the victim’s feelings, and sexual education, forthe purpose of helping them acquire correct knowledge about sex, enhance their recognition of theirown delinquency, and learn how to live an adaptive life without taking to sexual delinquency.
Also, as those inmates that require concentrated and intensive guidance shall be transferred tointensive guidance facilities, efforts shall be made to properly conduct a verification of the effects ofsuch guidance and to improve the program based on the PDCA cycle. (Ministry of Justice)
At juvenile training schools, sexual delinquency prevention guidance, one of the forms ofdesignated life guidance defined in the Juvenile correctional education, was implemented forinmates for whom cognitive deficiencies or insufficient self-control, which constitute a factor insexual delinquency, was determined among those who were detained for sexual delinquency orwere detained for delinquency committed out of sexual motives.
This type of guidance was implemented in all juvenile training schools for boys and inmates
persons who necessitate an especially focused and concentrated form of guidance were designatedas “focused guidance subjects”. They were transferred to the specific facilities (2 nationwide) totake guidance there. In addition, during fiscal 2017 new materials were prepared for inmates withintellectual disabilities in order to expand guidance in accordance with the characteristics of these
inmates. Although evaluation of the program had previously been conducted primarily concerned55with focused guidance subjects, the target of evaluation was expanded by also including generalone. (Ministry of Justice)(xi) Implementation of a sexual offender treatment program at probation offices
At probation offices, parolees or persons under probation, with the suspension of the execution of
their sentence, that have been sentenced for:a crime of forcible indecency, rape, quasi-forcible indecency, quasi-rape, gang rape, etc.,(including attempts at such), or
any crime caused or motivated by sexual desire
shall be provided with a sexual offender treatment program aimed at helping them learn not to repeat
offending such sexual crimes and to improve their criminal inclinations. The implementation status
shall be verified, and effective ways of implementation shall be considered. (Ministry of Justice)
At probation offices, a sexual offender treatment program was implemented to reduce re-offenses,
and to improve cognitive distortion, insufficient self-control, and other factors that may beconnected to sexual offenses, and to teach them concrete methods to prevent them fromcommitting sexual re-offenses. In 2017, 950 parolees and probationers who have committed
crimes motivated by sexual desire participated compulsorily in this program.
In addition, a liaison meeting of practitioners in charge of sexual offender treatment program incorrectional institutions and probation offices was held to share the state of implementation of the
programs and ensure that the programs will be carried out effectively and coherently in facilities
and community. (Ministry of Justice)(xii) Operation of a system for measures to prevent repeat violent sexual crimes against children
by released prisoners
The National Police Agency shall obtain information on the released prisoners that have served asentence for a violent sexual crime such as forcible indecency against a child less than 13 years of age
from the Ministry of Justice and to confirm their whereabouts. In addition, the National Police Agency
shall actively conduct interviews with those released prisoners as necessary with their consent andthus strengthen measures to prevent repeat crimes. (National Police Agency)
The National Police Agency obtained information on the released prisoners that have served asentence for a violent sexual crime such as forcible indecency against a child less than 13 yearsof age from the Ministry of Justice and to confirm their whereabouts. In addition, the National
56

Police Agency actively conducted interviews with those released prisoners as necessary with theirconsent and thus strengthen measures to prevent repeat crimes. (National Police Agency)

57

6. Strengthening of the foundation for realizing a society where children will never become
victims of sexual exploitation(i) Awareness-raising of the child welfare-related officials that are likely to have contact withlatent child victims of sexual exploitation
In collaboration with local governments, awareness-raising activities shall be carried out for the childwelfare-related officials that are likely to have contact with latent child victims of sexual exploitation,
so as to detect child victims of sexual exploitation at an early stage. (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare)A section on responding to sexual abuse was included in training such as the “preparatory lecture
for being hired as a children’s welfare specialist” and the “children’s welfare specialist supervisor
training” conducted at the Children’s Rainbow Center and in individual prefectures. Such training
was implemented for workers at Child Guidance Centers, municipalities, children’s welfare
facilities and the like who may have to respond to child abuse. (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare)(ii) Enhancement of the response capacity of school officials for the early detection of childvictims and the promotion of support activities
Through notices to the board of education and to the meetings of teachers in charge of student
guidance held by prefectural governments, efforts shall be made to ensure that measures for early
detection and early response to child abuse including sexual abuse are widely known and taken atschools. Also, in the training program for health education teachers, exercise lessons, etc., are 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 a basic way
to deal with children and their parents/guardians. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology)
A notice “regarding the implementation of fiscal 2017’s ‘Child Abuse Prevention Month’” wassent to boards of education in each prefecture on October 30, 2017. Efforts in schools to early
detection and early response to child abuse were promoted. (Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology)
On June 7, 2017 and January 26, 2018, a meeting for the student guidance officials of prefecturalboards of education was convened (Student Guidance Official Conference) and the total 281
participants were thoroughly informed of efforts for the early detection and early response to child58

abuse, including sexual abuse, in schools. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology)
In the training program for health education teachers, education was implemented regarding
foundational theories of health counseling and protective guidance, methods of identifying mental
and physical health issues and their underlying causes, health guidance knowledge, and basic waysof responding to children and their parents or legal guardians (245 participants). (Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)(iii) Implementation of training concerning care for sexually victimized children
The Children’s Rainbow Center and other training institutes shall provide officials of Child GuidanceCenters with training on how to deal with sexual abuse cases. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Repeat mention 6 - (i): Implementation into training sessions of a curriculum on how to respondto sexual abuse (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(iv) Strengthening of the support systems of the Japan Legal Support Center
In cooperation with bar associations and crime victim support groups, the Japan Legal Support Center(hereinafter referred to as the “JLSC”) shall make efforts to improve the quality of the services
provided by lawyers engaged in support for crime victims, through providing training and preparing
a manual. Also, for the JLSC’s staff engaged in information provision to crime victims, functioning as
the JLSC’s contact point for crime victim support, the JLSC provides the training concerning measures
to prevent the secondary victimization of victims and vicarious traumatization of their supporters.
(Ministry of Justice)
To improve the quality of the services provided by lawyers engaged in support for crime victims,
the Japan Legal Support Center (the “JLSC”) and the bar association provided the training
concerning support for crime victims. Also, for the JLSC's staff engaged in information provision
to crime victims, the JLSC provided the trainings concerning measures to prevent the secondary
victimization 8 times. (Ministry of Justice)(v) Implementation of training for the promotion of information education
In order to enrich information education including information morals, the National Institute for
School Teachers and Staff Development shall conduct training for teachers’ consultants and teachersthat should bear a central role in the promotion of information education in each region. (Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)59

In order to expand information technology education, including information morals, training was
implemented at the National Institute for School Teachers and Staff Development for guidancecounselors and teachers responsible for promoting information technology education in their area
(125 participants). (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)(vi) Enhancement of investigative capacity for dealing with child sexual exploitation crimes
The National Police Agency shall continue to provide training specialized in the investigation ofchild sexual exploitation crimes so as to properly respond to changes in the situation and enhanceinvestigative capacity for dealing with child sexual exploitation crimes. (National Police Agency)
5 days of training was implemented for police leaders of prefectural police departments involved
in investigations of child sexual exploitation crimes, such as child prostitution or the productionof child pornography, in order to improve the specialist knowledge and skills necessary for suchinvestigations. (National Police Agency)(vii) Dissemination of questioning techniques with consideration of the psychological effect onchild victims
Questioning techniques designed to understand victim psychologies and characteristics and to ensure
admissibility of evidence and the probative value of child victim statements, while paying attention to
the prevention of secondary victimization, shall be disseminated among prefectural police
headquarters. (National Police Agency)
9 days of training was implemented for 30 officials of prefectural police departments responsiblefor questioning child victims in order to improve their questioning techniques while considering
the emotional state of the questioned child victims. (National Police Agency)(viii) Enrichment of the contents of training for officials in charge of supporting child victims
The National Police Agency will improve education concerning support for child victims based on
the characteristics of crimes involving child sexual exploitation, including how to carry out counseling,
how to deal with cases properly upon occurrence, and how to provide support to victims for theirrecovery, in order to enhance the capacity of the prefectural police officials that provide support forchild victims. (National Police Agency)
9 days of training was implemented for 30 officials of prefectural police departments in charge of60

supporting child victims in order to improve their knowledge regarding support for child victims.
(National Police Agency)(ix) Implementation of training, etc., for public prosecutors
Public prosecutors shall be provided with lectures concerning relevant laws and regulations regardingchild pornography on the occasions of various training programs that are conducted according to theirservice years, so as to further increase their awareness toward child sexual exploitation crimes.
(Ministry of Justice)
Lectures was implemented about relevant laws and ordinances regarding child pornography via
various training opportunities for prosecutors in accordance with their years of experience.
(Ministry of Justice)(x) Promotion of the deployment of school counselors, etc., for the early detection of child victims
and for support activities at school
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will develop a system wherechild pornography crime victims can feel comfortable in consulting and contributing to the early
detection of such victims, by deploying school counselors that have highly specialized knowledge andexperience concerning child/minor clinical psychology and social workers that not only haveknowledge concerning educational fields but also specialized knowledge and experience regarding
social welfare based on the Japan's Plan for the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens (approved by
the Cabinet on June 6, 2016), along with assisting the establishment of the consultation system.
Furthermore, as measures for children in need of mental care due to disasters or incidents and accidents
including child pornography crimes, the ministry will provide assistance (financial) for the emergency
dispatch of school counselors. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
In the 2017 fiscal year, school counselors, who take care of student mental health, were cooperated
with so that they can respond appropriately to consultation etc. of children, including victims ofsexual crimes. School social workers were appropriately placed to support children, including theurgent dispatch of school counselors, and endeavored to improve the counseling system at schools.
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)(xi) Establishment of a counselling system for continuous support for child victims
As continuous support for child victims, so as to help alleviate psychological damage, often requires
specialized knowledge, a system needs to be established, under which external specialists such as
61

clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, who are commissioned in advance, will provide, as needed,advice to the police officials that provide support for child victims. (National Police Agency)
In fiscal 2017, 124 specialists, such as clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, werecommissioned to juvenile victim counseling advisors by prefectural police nationwide, so thatjuvenile guidance officials are able to receive advice from experts in psychology and related fields.
(National Police Agency)(xii) Strengthening of the structure and specialization of Child Guidance Centers
In order to systematically strengthen the structure and specialization of Child Guidance Centers, thenumber of specialist personnel including child welfare officers shall be increased by FY2019 basedon the “Enhancement Plan for Child Guidance Centers” (developed by the Headquarters for Promotionof Child Abuse Prevention Measures, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on April 25, 2016), andassistance shall be provided for the implementation of training by prefectural governments including
training for child welfare officers, which is compulsory under the Amended Child Welfare Act of2016. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Requests were made for taxes to be allocated to local governments to enable the hiring ofadditional specialists in children’s welfare, in accordance with the “Enhancement Plan for Child
Guidance Centers”. In order to implement training as newly required by the 2016 revisions to theChild Welfare Act, the comprehensive support project for measures against child abuse anddomestic violence has revised its training curriculum and enhanced its support for prefectures toimplement this training and for hiring new full-time training coordinators by prefectures forhandling the entirety of training procedures in order to ensure that training goes smoothly.
(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(xiii) Strengthening of the system to support women in need of protection under the women’s
protection project
In order to properly protect and support women in need of protection, a specialized training project
for the officials of the Women’s Consulting Office, the deployment of officials in charge ofpsychotherapy, the deployment of guidance counselors that can take care of children accompanying
such women, and the enhancement of nighttime security systems shall be implemented. (Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare)Items (i) through (iii) below were newly implemented in fiscal 2017, while item (iv) was already62

in place and continued.
(i) The number of specialist training sessions for workers at the Women’s Consulting Office andfor women’s counselors was increased, and training expanded (from once a year to three times
a year).
(ii) In order to expand counseling and support by women’s counselors, their maximum monthly
salary was raised from 106,800 yen to 149,300 yen to make it more commensurable with thescope of their work.
(iii) The number of social workers for children accompanying women to the Women’s Consulting
Office’s temporary shelters or a women’s shelter was expanded, and support infrastructure foraccompanying children was enhanced (the maximum number of positions was increased from
2 to 3).
(iv) In order to provide adequate protection and support for girls in need of protection, guards areon duty and nighttime security has been strengthened, while psychological care has been
implemented by hiring psychotherapeutic specialists (in fiscal 2017: 35 out of 47 temporary
shelters and 22 out of 47 women’s shelters). (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)63