A special safety network set up under the newly introduced My Number system to protect women who have suffered from domestic violence has been questioned by victims amid fears local governments may divulge their whereabouts.
The National Women's Shelter Net, a nationwide network for domestic violence victim support groups, has submitted a petition to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, requesting that extra care be taken in the handling of personal information of domestic violence victims and that the My Number procedure itself be simplified.
"In the past there have been incidents where, due to mistakes made by local governments or police, information has been divulged to the abusers," said the nonprofit organization's director Kaori Sato. "Victims (of domestic violence) are fearful of entrusting municipalities with more personal information than is necessary."