Sexual exploitation of children: UN rights expert launches official visit to Japan

GENEVA / TOKYO (27 August 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maud de Boer-Buquicchio will conduct an official visit to Japan from 2 to 8 September 2015 to assess the situation of sale and sexual exploitation of children, including the production and sale of child abuse material in the country.

“I look forward to evaluate the situation and remaining challenges faced by Japan in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children, including teenagers, in all its forms,” said the independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote comprehensive strategies to prevent and combat the sale and sexual exploitation of children and to make recommendations for the care, recovery and reintegration of child victims.

“I will reach out to different stakeholders and to youth to take their opinions into account in my recommendations to the Government and other concerned parties,” said Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government.  “I will also pay special attention to the initiatives adopted by the national authorities and the private sector in order to prevent and combat sexual exploitation of children which is facilitated through new technologies.”

During her seven-day mission, the human rights expert will travel to Tokyo, Osaka, Kawanishi and Naha. She will be meeting representatives from various Ministries, the National Police, and the judiciary both at the national and local level. She will also meet with youth, child rights experts and advocates, relevant UN actors, members of civil society and NGOs who work on child protection issues, and representatives of the business sector. In addition, she will visit State-run child care centres and private shelters.

At the end of her visit, on Tuesday 8 September 2015, Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio will share with the media her preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference which will be held at the Japan National Press Club, 2-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, at 15:00. Access to the press conference will be limited to journalists. Consecutive interpretation (English/Japanese) will be provided.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2016.

Maud de Boer-Buquicchio (Netherlands) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2014. She served as Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe between 2002 and 2012. Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio spearheaded the adoption of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. She is the President of the European Federation for Missing and Exploited Children. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-sale-of-children

The Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures of Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization, and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Japan: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/japan

For more information and media requests, please contact the United Nations Information Center in Tokyo / Ms. Yasuko Senoo: yasuko.senoo@unic.org / Tel. +81 3 5467 4451 or Ms. Nekane Lavín (nlavin@ohchr.org) or write to srsaleofchildren@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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