[Editorial] Protection of Thai Girl: Active Enforcement of Human Trafficking Laws Needed

The following is the translation of the Sankei News Editorial.

https://www.sankei.com/article/20251126-GSEENILRHVI27FIFRYSNVLCJCE/

[Editorial] Protection of Thai Girl: Active Enforcement of Human Trafficking Laws Needed

We must recognize this as a national disgrace. The police should cooperate with relevant countries and conduct a thorough investigation into the background of the case.

In September, a 12-year-old Thai girl sought help from the Tokyo Immigration Bureau and was taken into protective custody. It is reported that she had been forced to work illegally at a private massage parlor in Yushima, Tokyo, where she provided sexual services to male clients.

The girl had arrived in Japan in June with her mother and was left at the store. The mother disappeared the following day and was detained by Taiwanese authorities on unrelated charges. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested the male operator of the store on suspicion of violating the Labor Standards Act (minimum age requirements) and obtained an arrest warrant for the mother on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act. Thai police also issued an arrest warrant for the mother on suspicion of human trafficking, and indicated that Japan would be prioritized for her transfer from Taiwan.

It is reported that the girl lived in the store’s kitchen and was forced to provide sexual services to approximately 60 clients per month. All proceeds were handed over to the store, and half were sent to the mother’s bank account.

n Thailand, the girl had been attending middle school normally. At 12 years old, it would have been clear from her appearance that she was still a child. The hardships she endured during her days in Tokyo are unimaginable. We feel deep anger toward the store and the mother who abandoned her daughter, and are horrified by the existence of clients who received services from the girl.

Poverty is likely the underlying cause of this crime. There must be human trafficking brokers and organized crime groups that specifically target such vulnerabilities. The full extent of the case should be clarified, and those responsible should be punished severely.

In 2005, the Penal Code established the crime of human trafficking. The sale of minors is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment, and trafficking for lewd purposes by up to ten years. These penalties are more severe than the less-than-one-year maximum under the Labor Standards Act (minimum age), but proving such crimes is difficult, and cases in which the law has been applied remain few. We hope for more proactive enforcement.

In 2012, the United Nations adopted the “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,” with the aim of combating human trafficking while giving special consideration to women and children.

In response, the Japanese government formulated an “Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking,” and in the 2022 revision, stated its goal to “enhance and strengthen measures against human trafficking in order to realize Japan as the safest country in the world.” The handling of this case should be recognized as drawing international attention.