Act on the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims
配偶者からの暴力の防止及び被害者の保護等に関する法律
Contents
Read it chapter by chapter; the first chapter follows below. Or read the whole law on one page.
- Chapter I General Provisions第一章 総則Articles 1–2 · 2
- Chapter I-2 Basic Policy and Prefectural Basic Plans第一章の二 基本方針及び都道府県基本計画等Articles 2-2–2-3 · 2
- Chapter II Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Centers第二章 配偶者暴力相談支援センター等Articles 3–5-4 · 6
- Chapter III Protection of Victims第三章 被害者の保護Articles 6–9-2 · 7
- Chapter IV Protection Orders第四章 保護命令Articles 10–22 · 17
- Chapter V Miscellaneous Provisions第五章 雑則Articles 23–28 · 6
- Chapter V-2 Auxiliary Provisions第五章の二 補則Article 28-2
- Chapter VI Penal Provisions第六章 罰則Articles 29–31 · 3
As respect for individuality and equality under law is stipulated in the Constitution of Japan, efforts have been made in Japan for the protection of human rights and the realization of equality between women and men.
我が国においては、日本国憲法に個人の尊重と法の下の平等がうたわれ、人権の擁護と男女平等の実現に向けた取組が行われている。
Nevertheless, even though spousal violence constitutes a serious violation of human rights that can involve criminal acts, efforts to help victims have not always been adequate. In addition, the majority of victims of spousal violence are women. When women who find it difficult to achieve economic self-reliance are subject to violence from their spouses, it adversely affects respect for individuality and impedes the realization of equality between women and men.
In order to improve these conditions and to achieve the protection of human rights and the realization of equality between women and men, measures to prevent spousal violence and protect victims need to be established. This action is also in line with efforts taken by the international community to eradicate violence against women.
This Act has been established in order to prevent spousal violence and protect victims through the establishment of a system to deal with spousal violence, providing for notification, counseling, protection, and support for self-reliance, etc.
Chapter I General Provisions
第一章 総則
第一条（定義）
The term "spousal violence" as used in this Act means physical violence caused by one spouse (illegal physical attacks that threaten the other spouse's life or person; the same applies hereinafter) or words and deeds by one spouse that cause the same level of psychological or physical harm to the other spouse (hereinafter collectively referred to as "physical violence, etc." in this paragraph and Article 28-2), and includes cases where a spouse has, subsequent to being subjected to physical violence, etc. by the other spouse, obtained a divorce or annulment of marriage but continues to be subjected to physical violence, etc. by the former spouse.
この法律において「配偶者からの暴力」とは、配偶者からの身体に対する暴力（身体に対する不法な攻撃であって生命又は身体に危害を及ぼすものをいう。以下同じ。）又はこれに準ずる心身に有害な影響を及ぼす言動（以下この項及び第二十八条の二において「身体に対する暴力等」と総称する。）をいい、配偶者からの身体に対する暴力等を受けた後に、その者が離婚をし、又はその婚姻が取り消された場合にあっては、当該配偶者であった者から引き続き受ける身体に対する暴力等を含むものとする。
The term "victim" as used in this Act means a person who has been subjected to spousal violence.
この法律において「被害者」とは、配偶者からの暴力を受けた者をいう。
The term "spouse" as used in this Act includes persons who are in a de facto state of marriage that has not been legally registered. The term "divorce" includes the circumstances of persons who were in a de facto state of marriage that was not legally registered, and whose situation has changed to a de facto state of divorce.
この法律にいう「配偶者」には、婚姻の届出をしていないが事実上婚姻関係と同様の事情にある者を含み、「離婚」には、婚姻の届出をしていないが事実上婚姻関係と同様の事情にあった者が、事実上離婚したと同様の事情に入ることを含むものとする。
The national government and local public entities have the responsibility of preventing spousal violence and protecting victims (including supporting their self-reliance; the same applies hereinafter).