Forced Participation In Religious Activities To Be Classified As Child Abuse In Japan

[RAMROD 117,043]

New health ministry guidelines in Japan will classify as abuse any acts by members of religious groups who threaten or force their children to participate in religious activities, or that hinder a child’s career path based on religious doctrine.

According to unnamed sources cited by Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun, the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry is preparing its first draft of guidelines to help local governments deal with issues of child abuse that have emerged in connection with religious groups such as the Unification Church, officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

The controversial Unification Church came to attention in 2022 after former prime minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot by a man with longstanding grudges against the religious group.

Children of religious groups’ followers have criticised the authorities’ handling of this issue in the past.

They have said child consultation centres and the police did not respond to their complaints of abuse, telling the children there was nothing they could do because freedom of religion is protected under the Constitution.

In October, the ministry told local governments not to make perfunctory responses simply because a problem is religious in nature. It is also working to outline specific points in the guidelines that the authorities should be aware of when dealing with such cases.

According to the sources, the envisaged guidelines will be in a question-and-answer format and will specify what faith-based acts against children fall under the categories of abuse as stipulated in the Child Abuse Prevention Law.

The law stipulates four types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglect and psychological.

Inciting fear by telling children they will go to hell if they do not participate in religious activities, or preventing them from making decisions about their career path, is regarded as psychological abuse and neglect in the guidelines.

Other acts that will constitute neglect include not having the financial resources to provide adequate food or housing for children as a result of making large donations, or blocking their interaction with friends due to a difference in religious beliefs and thereby undermining their social skills.

When taking action, the guidelines will urge child consultation centres and local governments to pay particular attention to the possibility that children may be unable to recognise the damage caused by abuse after being influenced by doctrine-based thinking and values.

In addition, there are concerns that giving advice to parents may cause the abuse to escalate and bring increased pressure from religious groups on the families. In the light of this, the guidelines will call for making the safety of children the top priority and taking them into temporary protective care without hesitation.

For children 18 years of age or older and not eligible for protection by child consultation centres, local governments should instead refer them to legal support centres, welfare offices and other consultation facilities.

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/forced-participation-in-religious-activities-to-be-classified-as-child-abuse-in-japan

 

[badfaith 5,716]

15 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

Inciting fear by telling children they will go to hell if they do not participate in religious activities, or preventing them from making decisions about their career path, is regarded as psychological abuse and neglect in the guidelines.

we had to celebrate 

[faysalaaa 5,336]

What if its done without using religion? 

[Lextyr97 20,791]

Can we get this in the US please

[heygurlhi 3,200]

based

[bionic 50,111]

is japan a secular country? i didnt know that

[ARTFAP 1,251]

the way Gaga ignored all Asian countries during Chromatica Ball Tour except Japan. 

[Karl 3,575]

6 hours ago, faysalaaa1 said:

What if its done without using religion?

"The law stipulates four types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglect and psychological."

There are already laws regarding this, they are just over excusing these 4 things based on religious freedom.

I'm all for this, love how secular Japan is wish this was the case everywhere tbh

[Economy 52,845]

2 hours ago, bionic said:

is japan a secular country? i didnt know that

Secular Country? What's that?

 

[faysalaaa 5,336]

18 hours ago, Karl said:

"The law stipulates four types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglect and psychological."

There are already laws regarding this, they are just over excusing these 4 things based on religious freedom.

I'm all for this, love how secular Japan is wish this was the case everywhere tbh

"Inciting fear by telling children they will go to hell if they do not participate in religious activities"

What if they incite fear by saying a monster will come out of the closet at night if you dont do your chores? Its okay aslong as its secular and none religious?

I like what they did, but I just have a feeling that this kind of secularism is very french like. Which is they support secularism based on freedom and democracy, but you cant wear a hijab at the beach or government building.

[Karl 3,575]

13 minutes ago, faysalaaa1 said:

"Inciting fear by telling children they will go to hell if they do not participate in religious activities"

What if they incite fear by saying a monster will come out of the closet at night if you dont do your chores? Its okay aslong as its secular and none religious?

I like what they did, but I just have a feeling that this kind of secularism is very french like. Which is they support secularism based on freedom and democracy, but you cant wear a hijab at the beach or if you work in a government building.

I mean that's a whataboutism, but either one is pretty horrible, I wish parents did neither of those  at least one of them is now enforcable. I don't agree with the French laws, unless it's a face covering, which is a security thing for me, same way I don't think you should be able to wear balaclavas.

[BBhomemaker 5,611]

1 hour ago, Economy said:

Secular Country? What's that?

 

[faysalaaa 5,336]

33 minutes ago, Karl said:

I mean that's a whataboutism, but either one is pretty horrible, I wish parents did neither of those  at least one of them is now enforcable. I don't agree with the French laws, unless it's a face covering, which is a security thing for me, same way I don't think you should be able to wear balaclavas.

Yeah im a Muslim, but I agree and I believe in real secularism.

[bionic 50,111]

1 hour ago, Economy said:

Secular Country? What's that?

 

is this a joke post or genuine question?

secular = no state religion/no active interference of government and religion

[Economy 52,845]

This makes sense... But there also needs to be reasonable thresholds I think for what's considered abuse and what would be a reach cuz to me this is the kind of thing that could potentially have grey areas depending how involved exactly ur talking

 

For example, a couple goes to church every week but their 5 year old doesn't really like going... The 5 year old is too young to be left alone at home and always paying a baby sitter may not be feasible for everyone. Are u gonna classify a parent taking them along to the church as a child abuse? Children often may not necessarily wanna do everything their parents involve them in. They may not wanna tag along for grocery shopping either but the parent decides they have to cuz they can't be left at home

 

I think there's legit shoving religion down the thorats of minors which should not be allowed but I wouldn't classify every casual involvement a kid may roll eyes on as outright child abuse.

 

The law needs to be clear where it's drawing the line