Japan – Children’s rights

Chapter 2. Action Plan

2.Areas of the NAP

(1)   Cross-cutting areas

A. Labour (Promotion of Decent Work)

(Existing framework/Measures taken)

As measures that have already been conducted in the labour area, the Government made efforts to realize decent work by promoting labour policies to respect, promote, and realize the four principles concerning the fundamental rights stated in the ILO Declaration, namely: … (3) the effective abolition of child labour;

 

B. Promotion and Protection of Children’s Rights

(Existing framework/Measures taken)

As measures that have already been conducted, the Government has supported initiatives in the area of education that leads to eradication of child labour and measures against trafficking in persons by contributing to the UN Trust Fund for Human Security and international organizations. In addition, the Government has supported initiatives to enhance measures against trafficking in persons and protection of such victims mainly in Southeast Asian countries, through technical cooperation by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and contributions to various UN agencies. Furthermore, the Government has been making contributions to and participating in the Asia-Pacific regional framework, the “Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime” (hereinafter referred to as the Bali Process). The Government has also taken part in the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online. Moreover, the Government reaffirmed the G20 commitment to eradicate child labour and various forms of modern slavery in the G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration and the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration, both compiled by Japan as the chair. For these initiatives, sufficient attention has been paid to gender perspectives considering that a large number of the victims involved are women and girls.

At national level, the Government has started to formulate a national action plan to end violence against children jointly with civil society and businesses, as a pathfinding country for the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (GPeVAC). The action plan is being drafted through respecting the opinions of children obtained through an online survey called “Comments from Children.” In addition, relevant ministries and agencies cooperate to develop a better Internet use environment for young people through means such as the enhancement of initiatives concerning protection of young people, including filtering, in accordance with the Act on Development of an Environment that Provides Safe and Secure Internet Use for Young People (Act No. 79 of 2008, hereinafter referred to as the “Act on Development of Internet Use Environment for Young People”) as well as the Basic Plan. Furthermore, the Government works on the eradication of child sexual exploitation such as child prostitution or the production of child pornography, in accordance with the Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation with a view to eliminating such abuse by the Tokyo 2020 Games.

 

(Future measures planned)

(a)Contribute to international efforts to eliminate child labour, including trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation

  • Continue to make efforts to reinforce measures against trafficking in persons and the protection of victims with gender perspectives through technical cooperation by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and financial contributions to various UN agencies, in cooperation with the international community, including contribution to and participation in the Bali Process. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
  • Continue to support efforts for eradicating child labour through financial contributions to international organizations. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare]

(b) Raise awareness about child prostitution through compliance with the Travel Agency Act

  • Continue to engage in awareness-raising activities concerning child prostitution through compliance with the Travel Agency Act (Act No. 239 of 1952), and on-site inspections based on the Travel Agency Act to prevent travel agencies from being involved in organizing inappropriate tours such as those with the intention of child prostitution. [Japan Tourism Agency]

(c) Continue initiatives through the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children

  • Engage in ending violence, including sexual exploitation, against children in Japan through steady implementation of the National Action Plan to End Violence against Children. [Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare]
  • Promote initiatives to end violence against children overseas through engagement in the humanitarian window of the Fund to End Violence against Children. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

(d)Cooperate with relevant industries and organizations to disseminate and raise awareness on the Children’s Rights in Sport Principles

  • Cooperate in disseminating the objectives of the principles at international conferences, and in disseminating and raising awareness of the objectives to local governments, schools and sports organizations. [Japan Sports Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

(e)  Cooperate to disseminate the Children’s Rights and Business Principles

  • Cooperate in disseminating the objectives of the principles to relevant organizations. [Cabinet Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

(f )Steadily implement measures for developing an environment that provides safe and secure Internet use for young people

  • Continue to engage in fostering an environment that provides safe and secure Internet use in accordance with the Act on Establishment of an Enhanced Environment for Youth’s Safe and Secure Internet Use and the Basic Plan on Measures for Providing Safe and Secure Internet Use for Young People. [Cabinet Office]

(g) Steadily implement measures based on the Basic Plan on Measures against Child Sexual Exploitation

  • Continue to engage in the following: enhancement of public awareness, development of social awareness, and collaboration with the international community; support of children and families to ensure the growth of children without victimization; promotion of measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of victimization that focuses on tools; prompt protection of child victims and appropriate support; strengthening of crackdowns and the rehabilitation of offenders; and strengthening of the foundation for realizing a society where children will never become victims. [Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry]

 

D. Rights and Roles of Consumers

(Existing framework/Measures taken)

Goal 12 of the SDGs is to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” Accordingly, the creation of sustainable economies and societies requires action by consumers alongside businesses and governments. The Government works on realizing the rights of consumers in accordance with the Basic Consumer Act (Act No. 78 of 1968) that sets forth the responsibilities of the government, local governments, and businesses for the protection and promotion of consumers’ interests. Ethical consumption is the concept of consuming in a way that is considerate of people, society, and the environment, while incorporating the perspectives of regional revitalization and employment. In raising awareness on ethical consumption, explanations on social problems such as child labour and environmental issues are provided at workshops for children and using educational tools (leaflets, posters, and video) to introduce people to a manner of consuming that could lead to the resolution of such problems.