Recent child abuse cases in Japan ‘just the tip of the iceberg’, say experts

Lack of knowledge, poverty and reduction of a nuclear family are accountable for the increase of child abuse the true level of which is not identified.

Public support groups for children have been alarmed by an evident increase in occurrences engaging young children and terror of the true scale of the problem is still unseen.

The chief of Family Research Division of the Japanese Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Tsuneo Yamamoto said that that problem is extensively rising.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released the current official statistics which reveal a total of 66,807 cases of child abuse were reported in the government.

A study brought out by the bureau into the basis of the increase showed there has been an equivalent increase in unacceptable pregnancies and that young individuals who are born hesitant parents were exposed to danger.

He also added that normal “nuclear family” of various age groups living in the same shelter with grandparents on hand to give guidance and assistance to new parents was presently rare in Japanese community.

The government stated motivations to support people to have more children and stop the decreased population in Japan; however, critics say new parents require extensive education and assistance to assure the health and security of children.

J. Ryall