A new law that took effect Monday will allow authorities in Japan for the first time to forcibly take into care children who have been physically or sexually abused or neglected by their parents.
The law, passed in May, allows officials at child-counseling offices and detention facilities for juveniles to suspend the custody rights of parents or guardians and to refuse them all access to their children.
The officials will also have the authority to make house inspections accompanied by police officers. Anybody interfering with inspections could be fined up to 200,000 yen.
The ministry will increase the number of staff at the 174 designated child-counseling centers nationwide by rehiring former counselors.