Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography [to 7 November 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Children/Pages/ChildrenIndex.aspx
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Clarification of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography following her end-of-mission press conference in Japan
GENEVA (2 November 2015) – “In view of the reactions that followed to my end-of-mission press conference of 26 October 2015, I would like to issue the following clarification:
Regarding the estimate of minors allegedly involved in compensated dating (the so-called “joshi kôsei” or “JK business”), there was an error of interpretation during the press conference, and the percentage I cited (13%) was mistranslated as 30%. In this respect, a corrigendum has been posted in the websites of the UN Information Center in Tokyo and the Japan National Press Club.
During my visit to Japan, I received no official statistic on the scope of the “JK business” in the country. However, many of my interlocutors referred to it as a worrying trend which can easily lead to sexual exploitation of the minors involved in this lucrative business. In the press conference, I made reference to estimates I had seen in open sources to highlight a phenomenon that must be urgently tackled. The bottom line is that the so-called “JK business” is a very serious matter that needs to be looked into – and official data compiled on it – urgently. I reiterate my call to the Government of Japan and relevant authorities to conduct comprehensive research on the scope, root causes and impact of the “JK business” and other activities that lead or can amount to sexual exploitation of children, in order to inform evidence-based preventive policies.
In my multiple meetings with a vast array of stakeholders while in Japan, I have taken note of several efforts deployed by the Government and other actors to combat sexual exploitation of children, a number of which could be replicated as good practices in other countries. Despite all these efforts, the country faces various challenges in this area, and my aim is to assist the authorities in determining how to best overcome them in compliance with international human rights norms and standards. The full and comprehensive report that I will present to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2016 will aim at supporting Japan’s efforts in eradicating and preventing the sexual exploitation and sale of children.”
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