An overview of the Prevention of Sexual Violence against Children Act（英語字幕版）

Summary

The video explains Japan’s Prevention of Sexual Violence against Children Act and the measures covered education and childcare providers must take to protect children.

Why the law is needed

Sexual violence can have serious, lifelong effects on children’s physical and mental development and is a grave violation of their human rights.

Education and childcare settings can involve power imbalances, repeated contact, and limited outside supervision. These conditions can make it harder for children to disclose abuse or for others to detect it.

Perpetrators may be encouraged by distorted beliefs, such as minimizing the harm (“I only touched them slightly”), assuming a child welcomed the behavior, or believing they deserve something in return for their efforts.

Prevention also includes addressing conduct that may not itself be sexual but is unnecessary for work and could escalate—for example, private social-media interactions with children outside work.

Who is covered

The law applies to organizations where adults provide children with instruction—such as academic, sports, or music lessons—or childcare.

Operators of schools and designated or certified childcare facilities are covered, whether they are commercial or private. Other providers, including after-school programs and cram schools, may become covered by applying for and receiving certification.

Certified businesses may display a certification mark. The Agency for Children and Families will also publish a list so children and guardians can identify participating providers.

Measures providers must take

1. Prevent and detect harmful conduct

Providers must:

• Establish and publicize rules designed to prevent sexual violence.
• Create an environment where multiple adults can observe activities and reduce situations in which misconduct could go unnoticed.
• Provide regular training for employees who work with children.
• Watch for changes in children’s behavior and use interviews, surveys, or other means to identify concerns.
• Set up consultation services that children and guardians can access easily.
• Investigate the facts when an incident is suspected and support the affected child.

2. Check relevant criminal records

Providers must verify criminal records for employees whose work involves ongoing contact with children. Depending on the role, this may include managers, teachers, childcare workers, administrative staff, and school-bus drivers.

The check concerns specified sexual offenses, including unlawful sexual acts, possession of pornography, and covert filming. The relevant offenses may also count when committed against adults.

• For new hires or employees moving into child-contact roles, verification must generally be completed before they begin that work.
• For existing workers at facilities already covered when the law takes effect, checks must be completed within three years.
• For businesses covered through certification, checks must be completed within one year of certification.
• Checks must be repeated every five years.
• If the check and other information indicate a risk to children, the employer must take steps such as removing the employee from educational or childcare duties.

3. Protect criminal-record information

Criminal-record information is highly sensitive and must be handled with strict safeguards. It must be used only for its intended purpose, not provided to third parties, and handled by the minimum number of staff necessary.

Checks must be conducted through the designated system identified in the video as the “Komorirou System.” Serious incidents, such as information leaks, must be reported to the Agency for Children and Families. Records must be securely disposed of or deleted when no longer needed, such as when an employee leaves.

Improper disclosure may result in serious legal penalties and civil liability.

Conclusion

Preventing sexual violence against children is a responsibility for society as a whole. Proper implementation of the law is intended to help children receive education and childcare safely.

Speakers and sources featured

• Narrator: An unnamed voice presenting the training material.
• Agency/source: Japan’s Agency for Children and Families, identified as the authority responsible for the law’s framework and related guidance. No other named speakers are apparent in the subtitles.