Spring is almost there!
For many people, it is the time of anguish of kafunsho (hay fever) time...
Anyway...we hope you enjoy the latest Polaris Post.
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Polaris Post Volume 33
March 2010
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* Number of Human Trafficking Victims in 2009 Released
The Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice has reported
that they protected 20 foreign victims of human trafficking in 2009,
all of whom were women on February 23, 2010.
The number decreased from 28 victims in 2008.
http://www.moj.go.jp/PRESS/100223-1.html (Press release in Japanese)
The National Police Agency also reported that they have dealt with
17 victims of human trafficking, including 2 Japanese nationals in
2009 (February 18, 2010).
http://www.npa.go.jp/safetylife/seikan42/h21_zinshin.pdf
(Press release in Japanese)
The Ministry of Justice commented on the declining number of victims
as their efforts to prevent human trafficking may have been effective.
On the other hand, they admitted that victimization of human
trafficking is getting even harder to unveil and that they need to
further strengthen their effort.
Polaris Project believes that the small number of victims indicates
that the perpetrators are getting more and more skilled and
the statistics are just the tip of an iceberg.
Polaris continues to advocate to melt the huge iceberg of human
trafficking and to appeal to government agencies such as the
Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency.
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* Benefit Live for Polaris on International Women's Day
March 8 is the International Women's Day to celebrate women's freedom
and equality.
Sorcha Chisholm, a singer-songwriter from Australia and her friends
will throw a live concert on March 8 in Shibuya.
The benefit will go to Polaris Project.
Polaris is thrilled to have a benefit concert on the International
Women's Day. The show is not for women only--We hope to see men
and women on the big day!
The venue, Pink Cow, is a great place and the event is in English.
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Benefit Concert @ The Pink Cow Shibuya
Date: Monday, March 8, 2010 (Door opens at 6pm)
Entry: 2,000 yen (One drink included)
Part of sale will go to Polaris Project
Venue：The Pink Cow.
1-3-18 Shibuya, Villa Moderuna B1, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
8-minute walk from Shibuya Station or 7-minute walk from Omotesando Station
http://www.thepinkcow.com/NewMap_e.htm
Band list：http://www.sorchamusic.com/
For more information, please see http://bit.ly/9VnMzq (scroll down for English)
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* Polaris Talks at International Symposium on Children's rights
Polaris will be speaking on commercial sexual exploitation of
Japanese children at 『Symposium on the Convention on the Rights
of the Child"Challenges for the Rights of Children"』
This international symposium is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Co-organized by UNICEF Tokyo Office and Japan Committee for UNICEF.
Date: Friday 26 March, 2010
Time:13:30 - 19:00
Place: International Conference Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Tokyo
Please visit the MoFA website for more information and registration:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/bulletin/childsympo1003.html
(This event is with English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation)
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* * [New!] Employment- Public Outreach Officer
Polaris is hiring new management staff!
Polaris Project Japan (PPJ) seeks a Public Outreach Officer,
who will be responsible for a variety of roles in a small office.
The Public Outreach Officer will work under the direction of
the Japan Program Coordinator.
The position will be based in the Tokyo, Japan office.
The position’s continuance is subject to extended funding,
secured currently for one-year.
For more information:please visit our webisite:
http://goo.gl/B1nn
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* Co-Founder Katherine Chon wins the "People's Voice" Award!
It was announced that our Co-Founder and President, Katherine Chon,
won the "People's Voice" Award! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
for your support and votes.
It is inspiring to see how many of you care about the issue of
fighting human trafficking.
This honor is given by fashion designer and philanthropist,
Diane von Furstenberg, a firm believer in the infinite power of women.
The award was created for women who have the courage to fight,
the power to survive, and the leadership to inspire.
For more information, please go to:
Diane Von Furstenberg Awards
http://goo.gl/GGPE
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* February Polaris Monthly Seminar
On February 27, Mr. Daisuke Suzuki, an investigative writer spoke at the tenth
Polaris Monthly Seminar on "Girls without Home" to finish the 2009-2010 seminar.
The improved 2010-2011 seminar will come back in May 2010. Please stay tuned!
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* Polaris Digest (January-February 2010)
Jan 13 Spoke on dating violence at Kagoshima Prefectural College
Featured in the Minami Nihon Shimbun on January 21 : http://bit.ly/9Yjdew (in Japanese)
Jan 29 <Victim Support> Direct Support
Jan 30-Feb 1 Workshop on Preventing Sexual Violence, for children's nursing home
Feb 4 <Advocacy> Statement to the Ministerial Meeting Against Crime,
Working Group on Exclusion on Child Pornography
Feb 5 Spoke at the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice
2/20 Spoke at Taito Ward, Tokyo/Drop in for Girls Open
From January 27 to February 25, Polaris received 28 contacts from those who
seek support. Of 28 contacts, 19 were by phone and 9 were by Internet.
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* Human Trafficking Related News (in Japanese) http://bit.ly/cqeQHE
* Booklet "It’s Happening to Her, Right Now" On Sale (in Japanese)
http://bit.ly/bBod3r
* Polaris: SOS website for girls http://www.pol214.com/ (in Japanese)
* Polaris Project's Drop-in Center for Women (in Japanese) http://bit.ly/abOHFJ
* Polaris Community on mixi (in Japanese) http://mixi.jp/view_community.pl?id=1374560
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*You can be a Polaris Supporter with continues monthly donation
starting from 1,000 yen per month.
https://polarisproject.jp/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259&Itemid=66 (in Japanese)
If you join now, the booklet "It’s Happening to Her, Right Now"
will be given as a welcome gift!
*Turn your online shopping into actions to support Polaris through
E-Kokoro http://www.ekokoro.jp/ngo/polaris/index.html
(Donation website in Japanese)
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