### Chapter 7. Promotion of Measures Against Trafficking in Persons and Proper Protection of Foreign Victims of Domestic Violence

## Section 1 ☐ Promotion of Measures Against Trafficking in Persons

## Measures Against Trafficking in Persons

Trafficking in persons is a grave violation of human rights and a prompt and accurate response is called for from a humanitarian perspective. This is due to the fact that trafficking in persons inflicts serious mental and physical pain on the victims, especially on women and children and it is difficult to recover from such damage. Moreover, it is an issue of serious concern to the international community since it is a crime which is committed across borders. The Japanese government formulated the "Action Plan for Measures against Trafficking in Persons" through the relevant ministries and agencies in December 2004 and the "Action Plan for Measures against Trafficking in Persons 2009" through the Ministerial Conference for Measures against Crime in December 2009, and although the entire government had been promoting measures up to this point, the "Action Plan for Measures against Trafficking in Persons 2014" was formulated through the same Conference in December 2014 in order to work on more powerful, comprehensive and all-encompassing measures against human trafficking. Then, in May 2015, the "Conference for the Promotion of Measures against Trafficking in Persons" comprising the competent ministers in charge of measures against human trafficking held its first meeting, and currently, the relevant government ministries and agencies led by the Conference are promoting efforts in concert against the trafficking of persons.

In addition, based on the “Action Plan for Measures against Trafficking in Persons 2014”, the Immigration Bureau has also been striving to prevent human trafficking by further strengthening its system of cooperation with the related organizations, has been tracking hidden cases where there is the possibility of human trafficking and has been proactively engaged in eradicating trafficking in persons and offering appropriate protection to the victims.

## ② Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Persons

The Immigration Bureau gives full consideration to the position of the victims of trafficking, and grants permission such as extension of the period of stay or a change in the status of residence from the perspective of victim protection, and moreover, if the victim is in violation of the Immigration Control Act such as by staying beyond the authorized period of stay, the legal status of the victim will be stabilized through such means as granting special permission to stay to the victim.

The number of foreign nationals for whom the Immigration Bureau implemented procedures for protection as victims of trafficking in persons (including support to return to their home countries) was 9 persons in 2014 (12 persons in the previous year). According to the statistics by nationality/region, the Philippines had 7 victims (6 in the previous year), followed by Thailand with one victim (6 in the previous year), and Rwanda with one victim.

The number of victims who had a status of residence out of the total of 9 victims was 5 persons (8 persons in the previous year) and the number of victims who were in violation of the Immigration Control Act such as illegally staying beyond the authorized period of stay was 4 persons (4 person in the