Part 3 Implementing the high priority items identified by the Beijing Platform for Action

4. Violence against Women

(1) Eliminating all forms of violence against women

1)
Studying comprehensive measures towards the elimination of violence against women
In June l997, the Prime Minister requested advice of the Council for Gender Equality on basic policies to ensure a proper response to the changing situation brought about by people's awareness and internationalization in regard to prostitution and other forms of violence against women which impede the achievement of a gender-equal society. The Council for Gender Equality established the Committee on Violence Against Women which gave comprehensive consideration to violence against women, engaging in deliberation on the issue. The Committee summarized their discussion into an interim report, and presented it in October, l998. The Committee will push forward its deliberations further, and will prepare its own report to the Prime Minister.
2)
Promoting comprehensive measures against prostitution
a)
Partial amendment to the Law on Control and Improvement of Amusement Businesses
Partial amendment to the Law on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business was passed by the Diet on April 30, l998, and promulgated on May 8, l998.
One of the major features of the amendment which aims to prevent prostitution involving foreign women is to make illegal employment offenses as grounds for disqualifying persons from conducting entertainment business, and to prevent entertainment business owners, owners of restaurants and etc., and those who conduct business of dispatching employees to entertainment business, restaurant, bars and etc., from confiscating passports of employees, or making them owe large amounts of debt. The amended law become effective as of April 1, l999.
b)
Telephone clubs
In recent years, businesses such as "telephone clubs" including "two shots dial" that intermediate communications between many and unspecified men and women using telephone lines have been increasing.
Such businesses become a hotbed for damages by sexual intercourse and sexually problematic acts such as prostitution because girls who see the advertising leaflets may call the service out of curiosity, and there is a serious anxiety about the baneful influence on juveniles. Upon formulation of local government ordinance regulating telephone clubs and the likes in 46 prefectures, the police has, in addition to expending efforts on its pertinent application, commences to proceed with the enforcement to exert control over miscellaneous illegal acts, activities to remove telephone club's advertising materials (in cooperation with relevant organizations, groups and residents), publicity work and advocacy activities for the prevention of damage to the juvenile related to the telephone clubs.
3)
Domestic violence
Because domestic violence against women by husbands and partners tend to be hidden and unreported, the police provides consultation and guidance when handling incidences of domestic violence.
Counseling is also provided to couples upon request.

Penal provisions for domestic violence have also been enforced including provisions for violence, battery, involuntary confinement, indecency through compulsion, and rape.

There are 20 women's shelters operated by private women's organizations that provide temporary refuge to women in emergencies.

Since there are a rising number of women, together with their children, who seek the protection of Homes for Fatherless-families from FY l999, support will be enhanced through the provision of subsidies to purchase clothes and blankets.
4)
Promoting measures to prevent sexual harassment
The National Personnel Authority has enacted a National Personnel Rule concerning prevention of sexual harassment as a result of studying measures to prevent it among all clerical national government civil servants.
This new rule was put into effect on April 1, 1999.

In educational institutions, the current situation regarding measures to prevent sexual harassment is being surveyed.

With increasing awareness, a growing number of universities have prepared guidelines and provide consultation, while networks of private organizations are being formed to enlight the public.

Please refer to Part 3 A. 6. Women and Economic Status (2) (iv) Establishment of regulations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
5)
Enhancing measures to provide consultation, protection and relief to women victims of violence
To establish an environment which encourages women to file claims against sexual crimes when they have been victimized and to receive consultation, every prefectural police headquarters operates a Sex Crime Hotline.
Also support for the victimized women have been taken by providing appropriate information such as the delivery of brochures giving explanations of criminal procedures and various relief systems.
The victims are notified about the investigation process, the resultant sentencing of the suspect. Efforts are also being made to accurately respond to inquiries from the victim.

Since l996, in order to promote more pertinent and more effective investigations into sexual crimes, and striving to alleviate the mental burden of the victim using appropriate measures in consideration of the victim's position, "instructors on sexual-crimes investigation methods "and a "sexual-crimes investigation unit" were set up at the headquarters of each prefectural police force.
Measures were also taken to alleviate the victim's mental burden such as appointing policewomen to conduct the investigation interviews and identification activities, and accompany the victims to a hospital.
Also counseling services by officers with expertise have been enhanced to lessen the psychological damage of women victims.

At the trial stage, public prosecutors undertake to protect victimized women by means of making objections to inappropriate questions, while creating an environment to make it easier for victims to testify by requesting the court to keep the trial closed to the public, and ordering designated spectators and defendants to leave the courtroom.

When the Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice obtain information that the women who has been victimized by a violent act through human rights consultation services, etc., they start investigation of the case.
When the organs recognize an infringement of the women's rights, they seek the victim relief by raising awareness of human rights and letting the violator and people concerned voluntarily end or prevent the violence.
6)
Offering courses and training for staff involved in interviewing, providing guidance and protecting victimized women, and prosecuting violence against women.
With the goal of preventing sexual crimes from being hidden and to alleviate the psychological burden of victims, and to enhance the appropriate investigation of sexual crimes, the national Sex Crime Investigating Officers Conference has been organized inviting of expert investigative officers and women police officers who have been assigned to handle sex crimes.

Training programs offered to the public prosecutors office personnel include lectures on human rights and victims of crimes that cover the recent status of discrimination against women and how to treat women victims.
They also receive instructions on how to treat women victims during investigations and trials in various lectures that cover investigative and trial procedures, and other routine tasks.
7)
The issue known as"Wartime Comfort Women"
The Government of Japan has been conducting a thorough fact-finding study on the issue known as "wartime comfort women" since December l991, and announced its results in July 1992 and in August l993.
Public documents found as a result of such study are now open to the public.
The Government of Japan also expresses its sincere apologies and remorse to the former " wartime comfort women" on many occasions.
Having decided to provide necessary assistance for the Asian Women's Fund (AWF) established in July 1995 by a Cabinet's decision, the Government of Japan with a view to fulfilling its moral responsibility, has been providing all possible assistance for the AWF including bearing the whole operational costs of the AWF, and assisting its fund-raising, in order for the AWF to attain its goals.
8)
Contribution to the UNIFEM
In l996, a UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) Trust Fund for Eliminating Violence against Women was established based on the adoption of Japan's proposal of the "Role of UNIFEM in Eliminating Violence Against Women" at the 50th UN General Assembly in l995.
As of l998, the disbursements to the fund have reached 2.909 million US dollars.