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Japanese human trafficking laws to be toughened
August 17, 2004
Under pressure from the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, the Justice Ministry will seek legal revisions to deal more harshly with infringements of freedom, such as human trafficking, kidnapping and confinement, sources said Monday.
The new, harsher provisions against human trafficking-often the first step toward prostitution and forced labor-are designed to bring the Japanese government's measures in line with those of other developed nations, the sources said.
The ministry plans to impose prison terms of three months to 10 years on those convicted of human trafficking.
The maximum prison term for confinement and kidnapping will be raised from five to seven years, the ministry said.
The new stipulations will also apply to human trafficking for the purpose of obtaining organs.
Because organized crime groups are often behind the exploitation of women and children, such as forcing them into prostitution and other forms of illegal labor, the United Nations and the U.S. State Department have pressed the Japanese government to tighten relevant laws.
In response, the Justice Ministry decided to submit in September draft revisions of the law to the Legislative Council, an advisory body to the justice minister.
Acting on the advice of the council, the ministry will present the revisions to the ordinary Diet session next year for approval.
According to the National Police Agency, at least 83 foreign women were victims of human trafficking last year alone. Among these were women forced to work as prostitutes to repay their debts.
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