Japanese Child Protective Custody No Longer Age-Restricted 

01-02-2022 

Malina Wiethaus

Japan and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence 

Child abuse is a global issue. According to an estimate by the World Health Organization, one billion children have suffered from a form of abuse within the last year. To protect children from abuse and ensure their rights, the UN established the “Convention on the Rights of the Child” in 1989. Japan was an early signatory of this convention, as the country signed this document in 1990 (Lezott, 2020). 

On Monday, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced a new policy increasing protection of children in protective custody. The new bill will abolish the age limit of children in need of protective services such as foster homes and protective facilities. Currently, children who are taken into care are legally independent when turning 18, therefore required to leave protective facilities. Some exceptions are made, allowing children to stay until the maximum age of 22 (Shimbun, 2022). 

In 2019, the Japanese welfare minister Takumi Nemoto issued the importance of taking in children who are suspected to suffer abuse, without any hesitation. This press release was a reaction to the then recent death of a four-year-old after experiencing physical abuse. During this press conference, Nemoto emphasized the importance of increased protection for Japanese children (Jiji Press, 2019). 

The new legal changes should enhance protection by independently evaluating the children, regardless of their age, and thereby determining if they are capable of living independently. If not, they can continuously access support services until they need to transition to adult assistance (Shimbun, 2022). 

Most children who are taken into protective custody, experience abuse, poverty, or the death of a caretaker. This makes them extremely vulnerable to dropping out of school or falling into poverty themselves after having to leave protective custody (Shimbun, 2022). The new bill will help children receive the safe and supportive environment necessary for their personal development. In the end, today’s children play a key role in tomorrow’s future (Lezott, 2020). 

Sources and further readings: 

Jiji Press. (2019, September 3). Japan to Take Protective Custody of Abused Children without Hesitation. Nippon.Com. https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2019090300891/japan-to-take-protective-custody-of-abused-children-without-hesitation.html 

Lezott, C. (2020, September 15). Japan struggles to fight child abuse, protect child rights. Zenbird. https://zenbird.media/japan-struggles-to-fight-child-abuse-protect-child-rights/ 

Shimbun, Y. (2022, January 31). Japan set to abolish age limit on protective custody for children. The Japan News. https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0008229567