The Diet has unanimously passed a bill to revise the law against child abuse. On the strength of a court-issued writ, staffers of children's welfare centers will be empowered to forcibly investigate households where abuse is suspected. It is hoped that the revised law, due to go into effect in April 2008, will effectively protect children against harm and death.
The current law took effect in November 2000. A 2004 revision allowed the head of a children's welfare center and a prefectural governor to ask that police officers accompany center staffers visiting households. But if parents refused to let staffers in, the latter were unable to verify the safety of children.
Under the latest revision, a governor may ask parents to appear before authorities if child abuse is suspected. If they refuse to comply twice, the governor may ask a family court or a summary court to issue a writ allowing center staffers to enter the household. Police officers may accompany them and force open locked doors if necessary. Parents who refuse to cooperate may be fined 500,000 yen, up from the current 300,000 yen.