Fujiwara & Iuchi, Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

Time: 2009 Apr 01 15:00 - 16:00
Summary:

Press Conference:
Shihoko Fujiwara, Polaris Project Japan;
Kiyomitsu Iuchi, NPO Yukon-juku

Language:

The speech and Q & A will be in English and Japanese with English interpretation.

Description:

Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Japan
The New Victims: Japanese Teenagers

Polaris Project Japan launches a new mobile website: To help victims of child/teen prostitution and child pornography and prevent further exploitation

The Polaris Project Japan (PPJ) is the Japanese branch of Polaris Project in Washington DC. PPJ has been operating a hot-line for human trafficking victims for several years. In the last year, PPJ has been receiving more and more calls not just from the traditional human trafficking victims -- foreign women ensnared in the sex industry -- but Japanese teenage girls who have been lured or forced into the sex industry and can't get out, and sometimes even been asked by their own parents to work in the industry to make money for their family members.

Contrary to the popular picture of Japanese teenage prostitutes as clueless teenagers who just want to earn money to buy a designer bag -- many of the girls now in the industry are there because of financial necessity and a lack of support for abused girls and boys who run away from home. Many of these victims are recruited over the internet and or/are sold over social networking sites by their pimps -- like commodities.

Polaris Project is a non-profit organization that combats human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children. It was established in 2002 in Washington D.C., USA. In 2004, the Japan office was launched in Tokyo. Polaris Project activities and projects include victim outreach, multi-lingual hotline, victim support, and workshops for public and government agencies in positions of direct contact with victims.

Details of the problem and website will be discussed at the press conference on April 1.

Please reserve in advance, 3211-3161 or http://www.e-fccj.com/node/4388 (still & TV cameras inclusive). Reservations are not complete without confirmation and cannot be made by replying to the email notice.