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Justice Ministry allowing victims of human trafficking to stay in Japan
August 25, 2004
The Justice Ministry is flexibly enforcing legislation to protect victims of
human trafficking even though they are illegally staying in Japan, officials
said Tuesday.
Specifically, the ministry grants such victims special permission to stay in
Japan in order to protect them and arrest traffickers.
Law enforcers have begun to work actively to uncover human trafficking cases
and protect victims before they begin efforts to revise the Penal Code to add a
clause specifically prohibiting human trafficking.
Japan had previously deported human trafficking victims who were illegally
staying in Japan immediately after placing them into custody.
However, Japan changed its policy after coming under mounting criticism from
the international community that such action hindered efforts to get to the
bottom of such crimes.
The ministry now grants special permission to stay in Japan for up to 90 days
to victims of serious human trafficking cases who are expected to appear in
criminal trials as witnesses, according to ministry officials.
The ministry also grants special permission to those who could be attacked by
criminal organizations at home or those who are pregnant, even if they are not
expected to cooperate in criminal trials.
Human trafficking victims who are granted such permission would be allowed to
stay at facilities owned by prefectural governments or nongovernmental
organizations.
Of 3,517 people who faced deportation in February this year, 53 were likely to
be victims of human trafficking, according to immigration authorities. The
ministry granted 10 of them special permission to stay in Japan.
The Justice Ministry is expected to seek revisions to the Penal Code during the
regular Diet session next year to incorporate a clause specifically prohibiting
human trafficking.
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