June 12, 2018

The opposition force of which the Japanese Communist Party is a part on June 11 jointly submitted to the Diet a bill to support victims of sexual violence.

Opposition parties in 2016 presented a similar bill promoting the establishment of support centers nationwide and implementing the necessary fiscal measures. However, due to the subsequent general election, the bill was scrapped.

Along with the JCP, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Democratic Party For the People, independents, Nippon Ishin no Kai, Liberal Party, and Social Democratic Party added to the bill some more provisions such as need to improve functions of support centers, promote sex education, and increase preventive measures against sexual violence.

JCP lawmaker Motomura Nobuko, one of the bill's proposers, held a press conference after the submission of the bill and said, "Budget allocations for the support centers are only less than four million yen per prefecture on average a year. With such a small budget, it is difficult to provide the necessary support. I will do my utmost working with other parties to have the bill enacted without delay."

Past related article:
> Bill to help victims of sexual violence submitted to Diet [ May 13, 2016]