Civil Code revision targets parents who repeatedly abuse | The Japan Times Online

Civil Code revision targets parents who repeatedly abuse
Kyodo News

A Justice Ministry panel proposed Friday establishing a new legal framework aimed at restricting the authority of parents who repeatedly abuse their children, ministry officials said.

In a report filed with Justice Minister Keiko Chiba, the study group also called for giving more priority to foster parents and child-safe haven operators than to abusive parents to protect children.

After receiving the report, Chiba told a news conference she will seek advice on revising the Civil Code from her advisory body, the Legislative Council, at its general meeting on Feb. 5.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Council, an advisory body to the minister of health, labor and welfare, will begin work to revise the child welfare law and the child abuse prevention law.

The two ministries plan to submit related bills to the Diet during the next ordinary session, which convenes next January, officials said.

The Justice Ministry panel headed by Atsushi Omura, an authority on the Civil Code and a professor at the University of Tokyo, has been studying since June a new legal framework on how to prevent child abuse.

Civil Code revision targets parents who repeatedly abuse | The Japan Times Online