CHILD abuse cases hit a record high of 2,170 in Japan last year, mainly due to limited opportunities for social workers to prevent ill-treatment amid the Covid-19 pandemic, reported Sputnik.

The National Police Agency (NPA) figure represents a 1.7% increase compared with 2020, reported news agency Kyodo today.

The number of under-18 children placed in protection centres due to suspicion of abuse increased by 1% and reached a historic high of 108,050 cases last year, with the figure exceeding 100,000 for the second consecutive year.

Police recorded 80,299 emotional abuse cases, 19,185 physical abuse cases, 8,270 neglect cases and 296 sexual abuse cases last year.

“As the coronavirus pandemic is feared to reduce opportunities to watch over children, we will continue to monitor information that can lead to uncovering abuse,” said an NPA official.

According to the report, the increase in child abuse cases in the country is primarily caused by strict Covid-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders that prevent welfare workers from identifying and preventing possible crimes against minors. – Bernama, February 3, 2022.