Japan approves plan to ban parents from physically punishing children after string of fatal child abuse cases

Japan on Tuesday approved a plan to include physical punishments in a revised child abuse prevention law that will be put into force in April next year, as child abuse cases in the nation rise.

The government is aiming to pass a bill to revise child abuse prevention legislations during the ongoing parliamentary session and put most of the amended laws into force in April next year.

The current child abuse prevention law stipulates that assault and lewd acts constitute abuse. But when it comes to disciplining children, it only says people “shall give due consideration to appropriate exercise” of parental authority.

Under the envisioned changes, parents, foster parents and welfare workers would be prohibited from physically punishing children as a means of discipline. There will be no penalties for offenders, however.

“It is the responsibility of all adults to protect the lives of children. We are going to powerfully and swiftly work (to take steps to prevent child abuse),” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a gathering prior to endorsing the bill at a Cabinet meeting.