Last fiscal year, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) found that more than 3200,<> consultations and reports regarding abuse of persons with disabilities at welfare facilities were received by local governments nationwide, the highest number since statistics began to be collected.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in the one year to the end of March last year, there were 3,1 consultations and reports of abuse by staff of welfare facilities for people with disabilities received by local governments nationwide.
It increased by 3208% from the previous year and was the highest number since statistics began to be collected in FY12.
In addition, 24 people with disabilities were abused.
More than 956% of people have intellectual disabilities, and more people have severe disabilities.
In terms
of the content of abuse, 70% were "physical abuse," 57% were "psychological abuse" such as verbal abuse, and 42%
were "sexual abuse," and
some suffered multiple abuses.
Those who
consulted or reported were 15% "themselves", ▽ "staff" 17%,
▽
"installers and managers" 15%, etc.
Regarding abuse of persons with disabilities, the "Act on Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities", which stipulates that those who discover it are obliged to report it, was enforced in Heisei 14, and last fiscal year, the number of reports and consultations about abuse from family members and other caregivers reached 24,7337, the highest number since statistics began.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare says, "If you think that even a minor incident may be abuse, please report it."
Expert "Human resource development throughout facilities and offices"
Naoki Sone, an associate professor at the Professional Graduate School of Japan University of Social Work, who is an expert on welfare for people with disabilities, commented on the increase in consultations and reports of abuse, saying, "The effect of the spread of laws that make reporting mandatory has made it possible to notice abuse that has been buried until now. I am analyzing.
On the other hand, regarding the high rate of abuse among people with intellectual disabilities or people with severe disabilities, he pointed out that "the more difficult it is to provide support, the more likely they are to be abused, and in order to provide high-quality support to these people, it is necessary to develop human resources throughout facilities and offices, such as learning about human rights awareness and the characteristics of disabilities through training."