The bill to establish the "Children's Family Agency", which will be the control tower for children's policies, was deliberated in the House of Councilors after passing the House of Representatives last month. It was passed by a majority of both parties and the Democratic Party for the People.
The bill is expected to be passed and passed at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 15th.
What kind of organization is it?
What are the challenges?
Let's take a closer look.
What is the new command tower and role?
What is the authority?
The "Children's Family Agency" is promoting policies to improve the safe and secure living environment for children in order to deal with abuse, bullying, and child poverty.
In April of next year, it will be set up in the external agency of the Cabinet Office as an organization under the direct control of the Prime Minister, and a minister in charge of special missions of the Cabinet Office in charge of child policy will be appointed to give "recommendation rights" to each ministry and agency.
In addition, the Secretary of the Children's and Family Affairs Agency, who is the top executive, is empowered to request the cooperation of relevant government agencies such as submission of materials and explanations when necessary.
Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Fukuda said at a press conference on the 14th, "The Children's Family Agency was created to reduce the number of children who have fallen into the vertical division of administration and the gap between the roles of the national and local governments. I want the relevant ministries and agencies to not contend with each other and manage them firmly after considering their children. I want each ministry and agency to be able to say things. "
What kind of organization is it?
About 300 staff members will be assigned to the "Children's Family Agency".
The Child and Child Care Headquarters of the Cabinet Office and the Children and Family Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will be transferred, and three departments, "Planning and Comprehensive Coordination Department", "Growth Department" and "Support Department" will be established.
■ "Planning / Comprehensive Coordination Department"
After centralizing the various child policies that each ministry and agency has implemented separately, we will listen to the opinions of children and young people and create a general outline related to child policies.
In addition, in collaboration with the Digital Agency, etc., we will develop a database that aggregates information on the situation of individual children and families and the content of support.
■ "Growth department"
Responsible for the affairs related to the safe and secure growth of children.
In consultation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, we will formulate standards for education and childcare content for kindergartens, nursery centers, and certified childcare centers so that children can receive education and childcare in common regardless of the type of facility they attend.
Furthermore, in order to prevent sexual damage to children, the introduction of the "Japanese version of DBS = Disclosure and Burling Service" that checks the criminal history of people who work with children, and the history of child death We are planning to proceed with the examination of "CDR (Child Death Review)" that will be verified and will lead to the prevention of recurrence of accidents.
■ "Support department"
We support children and families with various difficulties such as child abuse, bullying, and single-parent families.
Regarding serious bullying, in addition to making recommendations to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to request explanations and submission of materials, welfare to provide necessary support to children who care for and care for their families, so-called "young carers". We will work together with people involved in nursing care, medical care, etc. to quickly understand the “young carer”.
In addition, we are also in charge of supporting young people who grew up in facilities and foster parents.
"Children's Family Council"
In addition, the "Children's Family Council", which has experts as members, will be set up to conduct investigations and deliberations to protect important matters related to children and child-rearing and the rights and interests of children.
In order to reflect the opinions of children in the policy, we will also listen to the opinions of children as necessary.
While observing the implementation status of the measures of the "Children's Family Agency", we will consider the ideal organization and system every five years and review it as necessary.
Local government official "tested for execution"
Hiroki Ihara, director of the Children's Department in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, who is in charge of child-rearing support, said, "It is very reliable for local governments to be able to establish a ministry that specializes in the rights of children. In many cases, the Children's and Family Affairs Agency will go out from here to find families in need of support at an early stage, and I think that outreach-type measures will increase, so I think that the execution power of local governments will be tested. " rice field.
On top of that, I was looking forward to the role of the playmaker of the Family Agency, which is a unified way of operating kindergartens and nursery schools.
Mayor Akashi, Hyogo "Not only to create an organization ..."
In Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, medical expenses up to the age of 18, childcare fees for the second and subsequent children, diaper fees for 0-year-old children, school lunch fees for junior high schools, and usage fees for citizens' pools are free.
In addition, the city is focusing on child policies in a wide range of fields, such as reimbursing child support.
Due to these measures, the population of Akashi City is increasing due to the influx of child-rearing households.
Mayor Fusaho Izumi, who also attended the House of Councilors Cabinet Committee as a reference, said about the Children's and Family Affairs Agency, "The budget and human resources are not enough. I want you to make one, "he said, and pointed out that we should promptly work on doubling the budget and developing human resources related to child policy.
On top of that, "In a society where it doesn't cost money to raise children, many people want to give birth and raise children. Instead of a politics that gives up children, we should change to a politics that it is okay to give birth. Children's policy. It is a new step for the whole country to start discussions about this, so I would like to upgrade it together with the country. "
What are the issues left behind?
"Children's Commissioner" "Unification of kindergartens" ...
Mika Ikemoto, senior researcher at the Japan Research Institute, who is familiar with overseas child policy, said, "I think the system for checking sex crime history and listening to children's opinions are the achievements. I want you to hurry up the problems of the playgrounds in your area. It is important to create an environment where children and those who are raising children can feel at ease and happy as a measure against the declining birthrate. "
On top of that, "This is not the end, but it is also possible to establish a" Children's Commissioner "who has the authority to monitor, investigate and make recommendations from a standpoint independent of the government, and to realize" unification of kindergartens ". I want you to speed up and solve the leftovers one by one. "
There is also an "incidental resolution" in the bill
At the House of Councilors Cabinet Committee meeting held on the 14th, Prime Minister Kishida also attended and asked questions, and Prime Minister Kishida said, "We will aim for a child-centered society at the Children's Family Agency. I would like to systematically organize the necessary child policies and clearly show the path to doubling the budget in next year's bold policy. "
After that, the bill was passed and passed by the majority of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People.
On the other hand, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Nippon Ishin no Kai, and the Communist Party objected that the contents were inadequate, such as the lack of unification of kindergartens and nursery schools.
The committee passed an incidental resolution calling for the Children's and Family Affairs Agency and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to work closely together and to start considering securing stable financial resources for children's policies at an early stage.
In addition, a bill submitted by both the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party, which stipulates ideas for protecting children's rights, was passed by a majority.
These bills are expected to be passed and passed at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 15th.
Political magazine "# Children's Family Agency"
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