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U.S. criticizes Japan for teenage prostitution
March 5, 2002
Washington — The U.S. State Department said Monday prostitution and dating for
money remain a serious problem among female teenagers in Japan.
"Teenage prostitution and dating for money continue to be a concern," the
Department said in its 2001 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
In 1999, Japan passed a law outlawing sex with persons under age 18 and the
production, sale or distribution of child pornography.
Despite the tightened regulations, Japanese men continue to patronize teenage
prostitutes and child pornography, the report said.
On the human rights of women in Japan, the report said the Japanese
government's statistics on violence against women probably underestimated the
magnitude of problem.
"Violence against women, particularly domestic violence, often goes unreported
due to social and cultural concerns about shaming one's family or endangering
the reputation of one's spouse or offspring," it said.
The report also said the traditional male and female division of labor at home
places "disproportionate burdens" on working women, who were still responsible
for almost all child care and household duties.
In the workplace, sexual harassment against women remains widespread, in
addition to wage and promotion discrimination, the report said.
Citing the results of a Japanese government survey of female public servants
conducted in 2000, the report said 69.2% of the respondents replied they have
been subjected to acts that constitute sexual harassment.
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