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Part Two: Report by Article

Article 2

5. Protecting Youth From Sexual and Violent Information

(1) Establishment of Guidelines and Ordinances

Since images portraying sex and violence have a negative influence on the sound nurturing of young pe ople, the Government is taking various measures to deal with exposure of youth to information containing such images through various types of media. Specifically, the Government established "Guidelines for th e Improvement of Environments Surrounding Youth" on 19 October 2001, which incorporated (i) action items for the national government; (ii) the national government's requests to local governments; and (iii) th e Government's requests to relevant industry organizations, and has been promoting the measures based on the Guidelines.

In addition, 46 Prefectures have passed ordinances according to the local situation regarding protect ion and nurturing of youth and have restricted the sales of "harmful books" including video material tha t depicts sexual and violent imagery.

(2) Efforts in the Field of Education

The Government has made the following efforts concerning the media depiction of sexual and violent in formation and other issues of harmful content in the environment surrounding youth:

i) requests from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology and the director of the ministry's section responsible for this matter to the relevant industries and other parties rega rding thorough implementation of self-regulation;

ii) support for PTA monitoring of television programs that youth watch; and

iii) survey and research on advanced efforts made by overseas non-profit organizations (NPOs) and oth er parties (FY2001).

6. The Issue Known as "Wartime Comfort Women"

(1) Government Measures

The issue known as "wartime comfort women" has no direct bearing on this Convention, and the Governme nt of Japan has faithfully executed its duties concerning reparations and claims after WWII, stipulated in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, bilateral peace treaties and other related treaties. However, paying attention to the concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the combined second and third periodic reports of Japan, as well as the consideration at the thirtee nth session of the Committee held in January 1994, a description of the measures taken by the Government of Japan concerning this issue shall be given herein.

The Government of Japan has been conducting a thorough fact-finding study on the issue known as "wart ime comfort women" since December 1991 and announced its results in July 1992 and in August 1993. The Go vernment of Japan has also expressed its apologies and remorse to the former "wartime comfort women" on many occasions.

(2) Establishment of the Asian Women's Fund (AWF)

To show its sincere apologies and remorse, the Government of Japan in cooperation with the people of Japan created the Asian Women's Fund (AWF) in July 1995. Japan has been providing all possible assistanc e to the AWF, including bearing the total operational costs of the AWF and money required for its projec ts, as well as assisting in fund-raising. Specifically:

a) Fund-Raising for the AWF

The Government of Japan has been making utmost efforts to raise pubic awareness and gain a better understanding on the issue known as "wartime comfort women." The Government has provided all possib le assistance to the AWF in its fund-raising to express Japanese people's atonement to the former "w artime comfort women."

As a result, a wide range of people including individuals, private enterprises, labour unions, po litical parties and Cabinet Ministers have shown their support for the AWF in the form of more than ¥560 million contribution (as of the end of April 2002).

b) Atonement Projects Overseas

(i) Project in the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan

Since July 1996, the AWF has been providing ¥2 million (atonement money) to each former " wartime comfort woman" in the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan from the above-menti oned people's contributions. As of the end of April 2002, a total of 234 people have received at onement money from the AWF.

On behalf of the Government of Japan, the Prime Minister sends a letter expressing apologies and remorse directly to the former "wartime comfort women" together with the atonement money tha t has been donated by the Japanese people to the AWF. Along with these, messages from the Japane se contributors are also conveyed to each victim.

In order to discharge its moral responsibility, the Government of Japan has, as of the end of April 2002, disbursed about ¥470 million from the national budget for medical and welfare p rojects of the AWF to the former "wartime comfort women" in the Republic of Korea, the Philippin es, and Taiwan over a five-year period (such plans as the improvement of housing, nursing servic es and assistance in the provision of medical service and medicines are being carried out with t he actual circumstances and wishes of each of the former "wartime comfort women" being taken ful ly into account).

As of 12 August 2001, applications for these projects in the Philippines are no longer accept ed. Applications in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan will end on 1 May 2002.

(ii) Project in Indonesia

In 1997, the AWF exchanged a memorandum with the Government of Indonesia and began its projec t. This project, rather than targeting "wartime comfort women," individually focuses on advancin g social welfare for the elderly (i.e. development of a facility for the elderly who are disable d, sick or without family) as suggested by the Government of Indonesia. With the donation from t he Government of Japan, the AWF will spend a total of ¥380 million for support over ten year s. Those who claim to be former "wartime comfort women" are given priority for entering the faci lities. In addition, these facilities are mainly established in areas where many former "wartime comfort women" are thought to live. So far 16 facilities have been constructed with 152 elderly residing within them.

(iii) Project in the Netherlands

The AWF exchanged a memorandum with the Project Implementation Committee in the Netherlands ( PICN) and began its project in 1998. This project provided medical and welfare goods and service s to improve living conditions, while taking into consideration the individual women's situation and wishes. With the donation from the Government of Japan, the AWF provided PICN with necessar y funds totaling ¥241.5 million (including administrative expenses). This project helped 78 people and was successfully concluded on 14 July 2001.

c) Programs Underscoring the Lessons of History

The AWF recognizes that the facts in this issue should be accurately conveyed to the future gener ations as a lesson of history in order to ensure that such an issue never arises again. As a pillar of its activities, the AWF collects and publish documents and materials relating to the issue of "wa rtime comfort women."

d) Programs to Raise Social Awareness

The Government of Japan is aggressively pursuing solutions to contemporary issues on women, such as violence against women, and is providing financial and other assistance to the AWF for its activi ties to ard the solution of such issues. Examples of these activities include: organizing internatio nal fora; supporting the activities of NGOs; and research and fact-finding projects.

(3) Efforts in the Field of Education

The Government of Japan attaches great importance to school education, through which young people, wh o will lead the next generation, correctly understand the facts of modern Japanese history including the issue known as "wartime comfort women." Junior high and high school textbooks now have references to th is issue.

7. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Government of Japan considers that the system of receiving communications from individuals or groups of individuals set forth in the Optional Protocol is noteworthy in that it aims to effectively secure implementation of the Convention. However, the Government has not yet concluded the Optional Protocol as concerns have been pointed out that it may cause problems in relation to Japanese judicial system, including the independence of the judiciary and so careful examination should be given to such points. The Government is continuing to conduct serious and careful consideration on whether or not to conclude the Optional Protocol.

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