On May 19, 2022, the legislation strengthening support for vulnerable women
(Women Support Act) was passed by the House of Representatives and promulgated on May 25, 2022. (Law No. 52)
Until now, support for vulnerable women has been provided through the Women's Protection Program based on the Anti-Prostitution Act enacted in 1956. However, as issues surrounding women have become increasingly diverse, complex, and compounded, a new legal framework was sought to replace the Anti-Prostitution Act. Issues relating to women include domestic violence, stalking, sexual violence, sex crimes, trafficking in persons, family relationship breakdowns, and impoverished women.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare set up a study group on the means of providing support for vulnerable women and held discussions from 2018 to 2019; and on October 11, 2019, they released the interim summary of discussions under the study group on the means to support vulnerable women.
In response to these discussions, the legislation was proposed as a multi-partisan proposal and was enacted.
An outline of the Act is as follows:
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The effective date is April 1, 2024.
Although there is no provision in the Act relating to women with disabilities, the Interim Summary of the Study Group on the Means of Support for Vulnerable Women includes women with disabilities. It states, specifically:
There are many examples of women with intellectual or mental disabilities who have been sexually victimized; and in order for them to recover, it is essential to provide support from both these perspectives of support for women and welfare for persons with disabilities.
For more information, please visit the website below.
Women Support Act:
https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_gian.nsf/html/gian/honbun/houan/g20806007.htm
Interim Summary of the Study Group on the Means of Support for Vulnerable Women:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_00520.html