National Women’s Education Center of Japan

NWEC held the above titled seminar from October 19 to November 2, 2017. Focusing on the prevention of trafficking in persons (TIP) and the protection of victims, the seminar was attended by 13 people overseeing anti-TIP measures in seven countries: Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, where Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been conducting projects on anti-TIP measures, and Laos, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

During the first half of the seminar, participants were briefed by a representative of the Cabinet Secretariat on Japan’s initiatives under the Action Plan of Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and during an inspection of facilities at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, they were briefed on measures for the protection of victims and support for the repatriation of victims in cases of human trafficking as well as living arrangements at the reception center.

At the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), participants listened to explanations on the crackdown on human trafficking crimes, the protection of female victims, and a newly implemented technical internship program. In addition, they inspected facilities at the Women’s Consulting Center run by Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Cooperation between the government and the private sector is also important in anti-TIP measures. Therefore, participants also visited non-governmental shelter facilities and facilities that support mothers and children to become independent, where they learned about the protection of foreign women and support that takes a sympathetic perspective toward the victims. The participants also engaged in a lively exchange of opinions with an organization engaged in the support of young female victims of online pornography. At a network for promoting community spirit among migrant workers, participants listened to the hardships foreign workers face.

During the middle part of the seminar, which took place at NWEC, the participants learned about gender equality in Japan. After a briefing about why Japan’s gender gap index is so low at 114th place among 144 countries and measures to improve women’s participation in society, participants took part in an exchange of opinions. They also took part in group discussions on case reviews and on topics such as “protection” and “prevention” with persons in charge of international migration organizations, prefectural police, and lawyers from the Japan Network against Human Trafficking. During a break in the seminar, participants enjoyed experiencing Japanese culture in the tea ceremony room.

In the latter half of the seminar, NWEC conducted a program that considered measures for making foreigners feel secure in living in Japan.

At the Kanagawa International Foundation, participants learned about counseling and support projects in line with life courses, and at an organization in Yokohama that conducts caregiver training for foreign residents in Japan, they learned about employment support that takes into consideration differences in language and customs, and cultural barriers.

At Yorisoi Hotline, a multilingual helpline for foreigners, participants exchanged views by comparing counseling services in their respective countries.

A JICA expert on the Thai-Mekong region also conducted a workshop.

Participants presented country reports and outcomes achieved during the seminar and exchanged opinions in the presence of representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, embassies in Japan, international migration organizations, the Japan Network against Human Trafficking, and non-governmental support organizations.