Japan's Action Plan against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

I. Investigations into the situation of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and clarifying the cause

1. The domestic situation and cause of the problem

   (1) Since the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children was effected in Nov. 1, 1999 (passed into law on May 18, 1999), 60 percent of the violations of the law uncovered by the law enforcement authorities involved telephone clubs. Therefore, such clubs are the hotbeds of this kind of crimes. About half of the child pornography cases uncovered under the law were committed on the Internet. Most of the Web sites on child pornography have remained closed since the enactment of the law. However, as some Web sites on child pornography have been opened secretly with tricky methods, the government will continue to grasp the situation of the commercial sexual exploitation of children by analyzing the specific cases of violations of the law that have been uncovered.

   (2) The government has been fully informed of the number of cases where child guidance centres have provided counselling to the victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children since the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children came into force through reports from such centres. There were 90 cases where child guidance centres provided counselling over a five-month period from November 1999 to April 2000. The government will continue its efforts to grasp the situation of such exploitation and promote protection of the victims depending on the damage they suffered.

2. The overseas situation and cause of the problem

   (1) It is difficult to correctly grasp the situation of Japanese people's involvement in child prostitution abroad. However, the government will try to collect information on the problem by cooperating closely relevant organizations such as the International Criminal Police Organization and non governmental organizations.

   (2)The government will seek to actively support survey of the commercial sexual exploitation of children by the related International Organizations, such as UNICEF, the UN Trust Fund for Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Protection and Child Pornography and IOM through providing financial support or information on the commercial sexual exploitation of children to these organizations.

   (3) In order to collect NGOs that are active abroad as much information as possible on the situation and causes (poverty, gender discrimination, organized crimes and armed conflicts, etc.) of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the government endeavors to establish a network with NGOs through the whole process of the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children including its preparation and follow-up.

   (4) The government will help NGOs' activities such as organizing of symposia and workshops on the commercial sexual exploitation of children through various frameworks such as "grass-root" small grant aid.

II. Prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children

1. Education for elementary school children

   Article 26 of the Constitution stipulates, "All people shall be obligated to have all boys and girls under their protection receive ordinary education as provided for by law. Such compulsory education shall be free." In accordance with the provision, ordinary education is obligatory and free of charge. Foreign residents, who are not under this obligation, are able to study in public elementary and lower secondary schools by the instruction from boards of education if they or their parents wish. Therefore, the government have made basic education obligatory and free of charge regardless of races and nationalities.

2. Education on children's rights

   (1) School education requires appropriate education guidance and school management which pay due consideration to the rights of school children in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In this regard, respect for fundamental human rights, the significance and role of international human rights laws and growth and character-building of children must be taught in social studies of elementary and lower secondary schools and modern society, politics, economics and general home economics of upper secondary schools. Textbooks on these subjects specifically describe the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The government will further promote the education on fundamental human rights including the rights of the child.

   (2) Lectures under the title of "the Convention on the Rights of the Child", respect for human rights education, "human rights education" and "gender equal society" are given during seminars for school teachers. The government will make further efforts to promote the respect for human rights in such ways.

   (3) The government has organized seminars on the rights of the child for staff members at child guidance centres and child welfare facilities. The government will continue to organize such seminars in order to promote the respect for the rights of the child.

   (4) Public prosecutors offices have organized seminars for prosecutors which focus on among others, the enactment of the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children, and care for children and women. Public prosecutors offices will promote respect for the rights of the child through organizing such seminars.

   (5) The police have organized seminars on the rights of the child during general education classes at police schools and training sessions held at their workplaces. The police forces will promote respect for the rights of the child through such training sessions.

3. Prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children through education such as sex education

   (1) The government will improve the quality of teachers by organizing seminars for them on sex education and thereby improve sex education at school.

   (2) Schools will provide sex education suitable for children's development stage to deepen their scientific knowledge of sex, help them properly recognize the opposite sex based on the spirits of respect for life, respect for people and gender equality, and enable them to make their own judgment and take an appropriate action.

   (3) Schools will develop children's ability to select information on their own initiative and help children to understand the negative aspects of information-oriented society, thereby helping deepen children's understanding of the problems involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

   (4) Schools should provide children with education on the prevention of drug abuse so that they can be strongly aware of the danger of drug abuse and drug related crimes and that they can recognize that drug abuse should not be done and permitted at present and in the future.

   (5) Schools will teach children the importance of being considerate to other people, help their understanding of the opposite sex, deepen their understanding of the importance of respecting the dignity of other people and the importance of life and respect their own and other people's life, in an effort to develop their morality, ability to make proper judgment and enthusiasm for putting what they learn into practice.

   (6) The National Action Plan of the United Nations' Decade on Human Rights Education compiled in 1997 calls for the promotion of human rights education, in every occasion such as in the school or to the people whose occupations are closely related to human rights. The plan urges Japan to intensively tackle the problems on the rights of the child as well as those of women, elderly people and foreigners.

   (7) The Council for Human Rights Promotion in the Ministry of Justice submitted in 1999 a report on "basic matters concerning the comprehensive development of educational and promotional measures to enhance public mutual understanding of the concept of respect for human rights." The report underscored the importance of human rights education and promotion at schools, in society, at households and etc. The Law for Promoting Human Rights Education and Promotion, which calls for measures to promote human rights education and awareness-raising activities, was enacted in November 2000.

4. Enlightenment measures

   (1) When the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children came into force in November 1999, the police have launched public relations and awareness-raising activities through various advertising media. They have also announced, as one of public relations and awareness-raising activities, relevant information of the cases in which they uncovered as child prostitution and child pornography with the aim of preventing children from falling victim to such crimes. The police will continue these activities.

   (2) The Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice have carried out various awareness-raising activities such as holding lecture meetings and round-table meetings, broadcasting programs on TV and radio and distributing pamphlets and leaflets in order to raise public awareness of the importance of respecting human rights including the rights of the child. With the aim of eliminating all kinds of discrimination, including discrimination against children, the Organs also carry out public awareness campaigns across the country during the "Human Rights Week" (December 4-10) under the slogan, "Protect the Rights of children," as well as on the "Civil Liberties Volunteers' Day" (June 1 every year), including street campaigns and lecture meetings. The ministry will continue these activities and contribute to preventing infringement on the rights of the child.

   The ministry also has appointed Volunteers for the Children's Rights Protection who specifically deal with human rights problems involving children. They provide counselling at children's counselling offices and on hot lines, "Children's Rights Dial 110," in an effort to enhance the public concerns on the rights of the child.

   (3) In order to help youths grow soundly, the government launches in every July a nationwide campaign, "month for intensively talking the problems of juvenile delinquency" and in every November, "month for helping youths grow soundly." During these months, the government intensively carries out public relations and awareness-raising activities such as the promotion of activities to improve the harmful environment for youths.

   (4) With the enactment of the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children, the government has issued Japanese and English booklets which includes the purpose and details of the law and distributed them throughout the world through Japan's diplomatic establishments overseas in an effort to notify people all over the world of the spirit of the law. If new legislation regulating the commercial sexual exploitation of children is enacted or the existing law is amended, the government will notify people all over the world of the details of the legislation through Japan's diplomatic establishments overseas and on the Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (http://www.mofa.go.jp/)

   (5) The government will in cooperation with experts on problems of children hold lectures in order to introduce the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and other efforts being made by Japan to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

   (6) The government will utilize e-mail to invite opinions on the commercial sexual exploitation of children from NGOs and the general public. The government will also make full use of mailing lists and the Internet to provide information of the situation of the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the world to the general public.

   (7) The government will, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official website, provide the sets of information such as the National Action Plan against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, and the summary of discussions at the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.

   The government will provide updated information on the progress made by Japan in efforts to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children even after the conference.

   (8) As part of follow-up to the First World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, the government, in cooperation with NGOs, produced posters appealing for elimination of child prostitution and child pornography and distributed them throughout Japan. The government also distributed the posters to Japan's diplomatic establishments overseas, mainly those in Asia, and put them up in the consulate offices in efforts to promote awareness-raising activities. Furthermore, the government carried the documents adopted in the First World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote public relations on the results and significance of this Congress.

   As to the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, the government, in cooperation with NGOs, also will promote public relations on the significance and purpose of holding this Congress both in Japan and abroad through producing pamphlets, organizing symposiums as well as other relevant events and making use of newsletters and public relations media in Japan and abroad.

   (9) The government will cooperate with NGOs to promote public relations and awareness-raising activities in each stage of the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, from preparation through the Congress itself to its follow-up in order to raise further public awareness of the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

   (10) Japan recognizes that it is important to continue the efforts it has made since the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit to promote dialogue and partnership with NGOs and build up cooperative relations with NGOs that are expected to play a major role in the international community. Based on this recognition, the government established the NGO Liaison Centre within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in October 2000. The government will strengthen its partnership with NGOs which combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children through the activities of the centre.

5. Cooperation with news media

   The government will encourage news media to actively participate in the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children from its preparatory stage in order to deepen their understanding of various problems involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

6. Cooperation with relevant industries

   * Child prostitution

   When the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children came into force in November 1999, the Ministry of Transport (currently the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) issued directives to travel industry organizations to inform their member companies of the law and provide them with information on the law. The ministry also established a liaison council with the travel agencies on awareness-raising activities on the law in order to raise the awareness among travel agents of the law. Travel agency associations also organized seminars for chief travel organizers (those who manage and supervise the sale of tours and tickets at branches of travel agents), seminars on the management of travel plans (for those who accompany travellers to ensure proper services are provided to the customers). In these seminars, the industry organizations instructed travel agents not to get involved in organizing prostitution tours and to prevent their customers from getting involved in child prostitution during their tours. Furthermore, the travel agency associations and the International Tourism Promotion Association carried out enlightenment activities on the law on their home pages and through their fax services, distributed pamphlets, and placed articles about the law in their newsletters in a bid to eliminate prostitution tours. The Ministry of Land, Infrastmcture and Transport will make efforts to promote such activities in cooperation with the travel industry associations, the International Tourism Promotion Association and other tourism-related organizations.

   * Pornography

   (1) The government will support the efforts being made by Internet service providers (ISP) and other industries to combat the spread of illegal and harmful information on child pornography and others on the Internet. Specifically, the government will disseminate model contract clauses which embodies the guidelines for self-restraint made by the industries including ISP and establish the rules which include the responsibility of ISP and other relevant businesses.

   (2) The government will consider a desirable system to respond to complaints and consultations on illegal and harmful information on the Internet, such as child pornography and establish such a system.

   (3) The movie, video, publication, video game and other industries have made their own efforts to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The government will support these efforts made by the relevant industries.

   (4) The government is developing and promoting a rating and filtering system on the Internet in order to eliminate illegal and harmful contents, such as child pornography, and share a database on harmful contents with the Internet-related industries.

7. Measures to address the root causes of commercial sexual exploitation of children in foreigin countries (Measures to eradicate poverty, etc.)

   (1) The government will support the implementation of projects to protect children's health, improve their living environments, disseminate basic education and prevent child labour by UNICEF, UNIFEM, ILO, IPEC and the UN Trust Fund for Human Security through financial contribution, bearing in mind the targets of ensuring children's survival, growth and protection set in the "world declaration on the survival, protection and growth of children" and the "action plan" adopted at the World Summit for Children in 1990. Furthermore, in line with the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum in 2000, the government will support dissemination of basic education of children through collaboration with donors, international organizations and NGOs within the framework centering on the UNESCO.

   (2) In accordance with Japan's Medium-term Policy on ODA adopted in 1999, the government has actively engaged in supporting developing countries to eliminate poverty and achieve social development as priority areas. Especially, the government has extended assistance to developing countries to help them overcome problems involving population, AIDS, women and family by continuing the WID Initiative. Japan has also actively support developing countries in the field of social development through bilateral assistance. In particular, the government has extended its assistance mainly through grant aid and technical assistance in the field of medical care, health and education that contributes extensively to the promotion of the health, welfare and education of children. The government will continue to provide assistance in these fields.

   (3) As part of Japan's efforts to support NGOs' activities, the government has made use of the subsidy system for NGO projects and grant aid for grass-root and other activities to extend financial assistance to NGOs that are carrying out grass-root projects in the medical care, health and education fields aimed at contributing extensively to the promotion of the health, welfare and education of children.

   In order to respond to those who seek advice and inquire about NGO activities, the government launched the system of NGO counsellors in fiscal 1999. Japan will continue to make full use of these systems to support Japanese NGOs' activities.

8. Government reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and response to the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child

   (1) The government will compile an official report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child while taking into consideration information and opinions provided by NGOs, and submit it to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The government, through such a review process, seeks to protect and promote the rights of the child, including their protection from sexual abuse, and prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

   (2) Japan participated in the drafting of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, adopted at the 54th U.N. General Assembly held on May 25, 2000. Japan will continue to give careful consideration to the discussions in U.N. and other relevant fora concerning international instruments on the protection and promotion of the rights of the child.

   The government will also give necessary consideration for the conclusion of the both Protocols from the viewpoint of protecting and promoting the rights of the child.

III. Law enforcement

1. Strengthening the system to properly punish those involved in actions relating to the commercial sexual exploitation of children

   (1) The Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children stipulates that a person who is involved in child prostitution, who sells child pornographic products or who transports foreign children to another country for the purpose of forcing them into prostitution shall be punished with imprisonment with labour or a fine. Japanese nationals who commit such crimes abroad shall be punished with the same penalty. The government will ensure appropriate application of these provisions and adequate sentence thereby.

   (2) A provision prohibiting child prostitution and child pornography was added to crimes subject to the Anti-Organized Crime Law, and as a result, punishment, confiscation and forfeiture for crimes involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children has since been strengthened. The government will ensure appropriate application of these provisions and adequate sentence thereby.

   (3) The police have improved and strengthened their investigations to thoroughly crack down on crimes involving child prostitution and child pornography and protect children from such crimes. Prefectural police departments have established a task force, a project team or a similar organization comprising officers belonging to the juvenile, entertainment business, criminal investigation and high-tech crime prevention divisions such as the Task Force for Preventing Child Pornography Related Crimes. Sectionalism has been eliminated from these organizations by strengthening cooperation between these different divisions. The prefectural police forces will continue to strengthen their investigations and crackdown on such crimes. The National Police Agency established Office for Protection of Juveniles in the Juvenile Division in April 1999 in order to improve and strengthen its efforts to protect teen-agers. The office has since played a leading role in giving instructions to prefectural police forces across the country on the enforcement of the law concerning punishment of child prostitution and pornography and protection of children.

   (4) The police have actively invoked the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children and other legislation to thoroughly crack down on crimes involving child prostitution and child pornography. Based on the recognition that telephone clubs are the hotbeds for crimes involving child prostitution, the police will give instructions and crack down on their business activities and consider tightening regulations on their business in efforts to crack down on crimes involving child prostitution at such clubs. Furthermore, the police will devote themselves to instructing and cracking down on sex-related business such as fashion massage.

   Since some web sites on child pornography have been opened secretly with tricky methods, the government will continue to collect information on such crimes in cooperation with relevant organizations and non governmental organizations and charge the owners of such sites with display of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, etc.

2. International cooperation in investigations and exchange of information

   (1) In order to effectively crack down on crimes involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children across national boarders, the authorities of the country where such a crime is committed or where the culprits' nationality is registered must properly indict and punish the culprits. The government will step up efforts to promote and strengthen international cooperation in mutual assistance for international investigations and extradition of criminals.

   Under domestic legislation, the government can provide mutual legal assistance in response to requests by the foreign government for mutual assistance for international investigations and extradition of criminals under certain conditions regardless of whether Japan has concluded a relevant treaty with the country concerned or not. Japan will continue to respond to such a request on the basis of the legislation.

   (2) The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (adopted at the 55th U.N. General Assembly on Nov. 15, 2000) is aimed at establishing an international legal framework for promoting cooperation in efforts to prevent and combat transnational organized crime. It provides for a framework for extradition of criminals and international cooperation in investigations and mutual cooperation between judicial authorities. As Japan signed the convention on Dec. 12, 2000, the government will proceed to the preparation for its conclusion as soon as possible including examination of necessary domestic legal measures.

   Furthermore, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (adopted at the 55th U.N. General Assembly) -- along with the above-mentioned convention, is aimed at establishing a universal and effective legal framework for promoting cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons of transborder nature including women and children and for protecting victims of trafficking. The Japanese Government will also proceed to the necessary examination of the Protocol bearing in mind its purpose.

   (3) The Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice has regularly exchanged information with police and other investigative authorities on violations of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. As soon as it obtains information on those involved in the commercial sexual exploitation of children, it provides the information to the investigative authorities or jointly cracks down on such cases. The bureau will continue its exchange of information and cooperation with the investigative authorities to certainly crack down on violators.

   (4) Customs administration is authorized to control the cases on such condition that child pornographic products found at customs fall under Clause 1-4 (articles that injure public security or morals), Article 21 of Customs Tariff Law. Since 2000, it has been implemented that Customs shall report all the cases of child pornographic products found at customs to the police, whether or not they come under the above-mentioned clause. It is expected that this procedure helps strengthen control over both imported and exported child pornography.

   (5) It is important for the police to strengthen cooperation with foreign police authorities in investigations into child prostitution and other crimes committed abroad. Therefore, the police will dispatch officers abroad whenever necessary to inform foreign police authorities of the provisions of the law concerning punishment of child prostitution and pornography and protection of children. The police are also building up a system under which they can promptly obtain specific information via foreign police authorities and the International Criminal Police Organization. The police will continue efforts to strengthen cooperation with overseas police authorities.

   The law enforcement authorities of Japan have also been cooperating with foreign law enforcement authorities by asking them through diplomatic channels for mutual cooperation in bringing criminal charges against violators. We will continue to actively investigate crimes committed abroad by Japanese nationals such as child prostitution.

3. Helping developing countries to strengthen their law enforcement authorities

   (1) The government will extend financial support to the United Nations Crime Prevention Centre (CICP) to support projects of technical cooperation aimed at helping the centre to crack down on crimes, bearing in mind the 2000 U.N. General Assembly Resolution 55/25, and Article 30 of the U.N. Convention on Transrational Organized Crime (implementation of the convention through economic development and technological assistance) and so on.

   (2) The government will seek to cooperate with developing countries in Asia to strengthen the criminal and judicial systems and immigration control in such countries, for example, by providing training sessions organized by UNAFEI to the government officials in Asian Countries.

   (3) Japan has regularly held various seminars and symposiums such as the Seminar on Immigration Control (held annually since 1987), the Seminar on Document Examination (held annually since 1995), the Seminar on Prevention of Forged and Falsification of Passports (held annually from 1997 to 1999) and the Seminar on Data Processing System Development for Immigration Control. Through these seminars and symposia, Japan will step up efforts to help developing countries to strengthen their enforcement of laws concerning the prevention of crimes. (In addition to the above-mentioned seminars and symposia, Japan held the Asia-Pacific Symposium on Trafficking in Persons and the Asia-Pacific Law Enforcement Conference against Transnational Organized Crime in January 2001 with the participation of officials of the law-enforcement authorities mainly from the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.)

   (4) Japan is fully aware of the necessity of measures implemented through the cooperation between the authorities concerned and the cooperation with ordinary citizens including NGOs to care for child victims and promote the cooperation with these groups.

IV. Rehabilitation and reintegration

1. Consideration for child victims in the judicial procedure

   (1) The Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protection of Children requires officials engaged in investigations and trial of violations of the law to take measures to pay close attention to the rights and characteristics of child victims. The government will ensure appropriate applications of the provision.

   (2) In order to ease witnesses' mental and psychological burdens for providing testimony in court, a law allowing witnesses to be shielded by a screen or provide testimony in video links has been introduced. The government will ensure appropriate applications of the law.

   (3) The police will take the following measures to deal with victims of child prostitution to give consideration of children's characteristics and try to ease the mental burdens of child victims who suffer mental anguish by taking into account the nature of the crime.

   * Female officers have been appointed to deal specifically with victims of child prostitution.
   * The police consult experts over the mental and physical conditions of child victims whenever necessary.
   * Female officers should be present as child victims are questioned, while taking into consideration the nature of the crime and the victims' mental conditions.
   * Prior to or during questioning, Juvenile consultants and guidance officials -- who have expertise on the mental, physiological and other conditions of children or can skilfully deal with children -- should provide counselling to child victims.
   * Care is taken not to question the victims for a long time or frequently.
   * Depending on the situation, police officials will visit the home of the victims or other places to question child victims.

   (4) The police are training officers to make sure that they will pay close attention to the conditions of child victims in questioning them. The police will continue such training.

2. Counselling for child victims

   Child guidance centres provide mental care -- such as counselling -- for child victims who have suffered mental anguish in response to consultations and reports from the victims themselves, their parents and relevant organizations. The government will continue efforts to improve counselling services at child guidance centres.

3. Relief and protection of child victims

   (1) Child guidance centres will promote exchange of information with the police and other relevant organizations to promptly provide psychological care for child victims.

   (2) Child guidance centres will admit child victims into child welfare facilities if necessary while taking into consideration their mental and physical conditions, family situations and living environment and provide them counselling in efforts to properly protect child victims.

   (3) The government will compile a manual on how to deal with child victims so that child guidance centres will properly protect them. In accordance with instructions in the manual, child guidance centres will continue efforts to properly protect child victims.

   (4) The Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice has established counselling offices on children's rights and "Dial 110" on children's rights at Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus so that children can easily consult counsellors without hesitation. The Organs have appointed Volunteers for Children's Rights Protection who deal specially with problems involving children's rights. They provide counselling services concerning children's rights. The Organs will continue to improve the system of counselling on the rights of the child.

   (5) The Organs notify relevant organizations if it finds the infringement on the rights of the child and deems that relief measures for the victims should be taken through the judicial and administrative procedures. It also introduces the Legal Aid Association to the victims, provides legal counselling and other appropriate relief measures that it deems necessary. The Organs will continue these efforts.

   The Organs have investigated and dealt with specific cases of human rights infringements and have been engaged in activities aimed at raising public awareness of the respect for human rights in order to protect and promote not only the rights of the child but also all human rights. In order to further develop these measures, the Council for Human Rights Promotion, which has been established in the Ministry of Justice, is discussing the basic policy of these measures. The council submitted an interim report on relief measures for the victims of human rights infringements in November 2000. The report underscores the need to improve and develop the functions of organizations that extend relief to victims of human rights infringements, referring to the Paris principles.

   (6) It is necessary for the Organs to cooperate with child guidance centres in protecting victims of child abuse. Therefore, Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus in the Ministry of Justice actively participate in the network of relevant organizations -- with child guidance centres as its core -- and cooperate with these organizations and relevant NGOs to protect the victims of child abuse.

   (7) The police, in cooperation with child guidance centres and other relevant organizations has been implementing constant assistance to child victims whenever necessary, such as providing counselling to child victims and give advice and instructions to their parents. The police will continue to implement appropriate measures to that end.

   (8) Under the Child Abuse Prevention Law that came into force in November 2000, the government is making efforts to protect child victims including those who suffer sexual abuse by finding and treating the victims as soon as possible. It will step up efforts to that end in cooperation with relevant organizations and NGOs.

   (9) Japan will consider early ratification of the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (ILO No. 182).

4. Protection of foreign child victims

   (1) The government will take appropriate measures to protect foreign child victims in Japan, regardless of their nationality, when it deems that they need to be protected under the Child Welfare Law.

   (2) The government will support projects aimed at rehabilitating child victims of the commercial sexual exploitation through financial contribution to UNICEF.

   (3) The government will utilize grass-root assistance and the subsidy system for NGO projects to support the NGOs that extend assistance for occupational training of child victims overseas and welfare facilities for such children.

   (4) Japan considers to contribute 200,000 dollars from the Trust Fund for Human Security to the CICP Global Program against Trafficking in Human Being in the Philippines. It will continue to actively support CICP programs aimed at supporting victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

V. Child trafficking

The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime(adopted at the 55th U.N. General Assembly) -- along with the above-mentioned convention, is aimed at establishing a universal and effective legal framework for promoting cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including women and children of transborder nature and for protecting victims of trafficking. In particular, it obliges States Parties to criminalize the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation including prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services. The scope of criminalization is wider than that for adults and accordingly the Protocol provides for greater protection of children.

Japan signed the convention on Dec. 12, 2000, and will proceed to the preparation for its conclusion as soon as possible including examination of necessary domestic legal measures. The government will also undertake necessary examination of the Protocol, bearing in mind its purpose, on such matters as its contents and consistency with domestic legislation. As to specific domestic measures that have relevance to the content of the Protocol, see the description of individual measures.

VI. Child participation

Young people will attend the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children to be held in December 2001. The government will promote the participation of children in efforts to prevent and combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children by giving youths opportunities to express their opinions during discussions at the Congress and related events as far as possible, while cooperating with NGOs.