White Paper on Children and Young People 2012 (abridged edition) June, 2012 Cabinet Office White Paper on Children and Young People 2012 White Paper on children and young people is an annual report submitted to the National Assembly in accordance with Article 6 of the Act on Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People (Act No.71 of 2009). This is the third report as designated by the Act . (If counted together with White Paper on youth (not designated by law) created from 1956, this report is 54th report.) Part 1 Present State of Children and Young People It introduces the current situation of children and young people, based on various data related to children and young people.  Rearing environment  Social life  Safety and problematic behavior Special Feature Topic: Youth’s Outlook on work and Future vision, and Current situation and Challenges on vocational independence and employment support, It analyzes ideas on work of teens and people in their 20s, and the kind of employment support measures they would like, based on the results of the "Young People Opinions Survey” Part 2 Measures for Children and Young People It introduces measures for children and young people implemented in fiscal year 2011, along the configuration of the "Vision for Children and Young People."  Promoting the policies on development and support for children and young people in a comprehensive and systematic manner  Providing support for healthy development of all children and young people  Supporting children, young people and their families facing difficulties  Improving the environment for the healthy development of children and young people to be supported by society as a whole  Framework for the promotion of future measures Column It introduces some topics such as activities of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) supporting children and young people and efforts of local governments that support youth social activities Part 1 Present State of Children and Young People Chapter 1 Rearing Environment ○ Population of children and young people Population of children and young people as well as its ratio to the total population has been declining almost consistently since 1975. As of October 1, 2011 Japan's total population is 127.8 million. Of them, the population of children and young people (age 0-29) is 36.37 million people, which is 28.5 percent of the total population. Figure1 Youth Population and Ratio to Total Population (million people) (%) 60.00 70.00 62.4061.00 Youth (aged 29 or under) population 50.00 57.7054.4051.70 Youth (aged 29 or under) population ratio to the national total population 60.00 49.20 45.00 50.00 3400..0000 42.2040.0038.8038.3037.7037.4036.8036.3035.7034.9034.2033.5032.8032.1031.2030.7030.2029.8029.4028.8028.50 40.00 30.00 20.00 20.00 10.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (Year) Source: "Population Census" and "Population Estimates" (As of October 1st each year), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ○ School Education Population The number of schoolchildren in compulsory education has been decreasing after its peak in FY1982. The number of children in compulsory education reached the peak in fiscal year 1982, but has shown a continuous drop thereafter, and is 10.48 million people as of fiscal year 2011. The number of high school students became the highest ever in fiscal year 1989, but began to decline afterwards, and is 3.36 million people as of fiscal year 2011. As for the case of higher education (vocational colleges, universities and junior colleges), the number of students started growing continuously since fiscal year 1985 and commenced to decrease from fiscal year 1999, and amounted to 3.1 million in fiscal year 2011 Figure 2 Changes in the Category-wise Number of Students Enrolled 20.00 10.00 Compulsory education Kindergarten High school 16.00 Special-needs school 8.00 Higher education Speciallized training college and miscellaneous school on 12.00 Upper secondary school education  Compulsory education  6.00 O ucati ther d 8.00 4.00 y e Higher education  ulsor 4.00 Kindergarten education  2.00 p m Speciallized training college and miscellaneous school  o Special needs education  C 0.00 0.00 (Year) Source: “School Basic Survey", Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ○ Situation of truancy among schoolchildren The number for truancy of elementary and junior high school students decreased compared to the previous years, while the truancy number among high school students increased compared to the previous years. The number of truant students in national, public and private elementary and secondary schools, as of the fiscal year 2010, is 22.5 thousand people for elementary schools, 97.4 thousand people for junior high schools, and 120 thousand people in total. This total number of truant schoolchildren of primary and secondary schools declined about 3,000 people than the previous year. However, the number of truant students in national, public and private high schools increased by about 4,000 people compared to the previous year to 55.7 thousand people in fiscal year 2010. Figure 3 Changes in the Ratio of Truant Students to Total Students by School Type (thousand people) Elementary school Secondary School High school 120 Secondary School 100 80 High school 60 40 Elementary school 20 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Source: ”Survey of Problems Regarding Concerning Students’ Unadvisable Behaviors”, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Chapter 2 Social Life ○ Labor (general conditions) Labor force population of young people is decreasing consistently. Population of young people (age 15-29) in 2011 is 19.05 million people, among which 11.14 million people (58.5%) are in labor force population (workers and the unemployed combined together out of the population over the age of 15). *Due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the results for the year of 2011 exclude Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Figure4 Changes in the Ratio of Employees (excluding company or corporate executives) Other Than Regular Employees Source: "Labor Force Survey", Ministry of Internal affairs and Communications ○ Ratio of employees other than the full time employees (excluding enrolled students) Ratio of employees other than the full time employees of 15-24 years (except during school) is 32.3%. The ratio of young employees other than the full time employees to total employees (other than directors) for15-24 year-olds (except during school) in 2011 is 32.3%. Figure 5 Changes in the Ratio of Employees Other Than the Full Time Employees (Excluding Enrolled Students) （％） 50.0 15 to 24 years old (  Excl. 46.5 attending school) 25 to 29 years old 44.2 45.0 43.0 42.8 30 to 34 years old 40.8 40.9 35 to 44 years old 40.0 45 to 54 years old 55 to 64 years old 35.0 33.1 32.0 31.2 30.5 30.6 30.7 32.3 30.3 30.9 30.0 30.6 27.9 30.0 30.4 28.1 27.4 27.2 27.0 27.4 26.2 26.1 27.2 26.9 26.6 26.9 25.0 25.4 25.5 24.2 24.6 24.5 24.5 20.0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011※ Source: “Labor Force Survey (Detailed Tabulation)”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ○Youth Unemployment The youth unemployment rate is constantly high, compared with the total of all ages. After rising sharply in 1998 and 1999, the youth unemployment rate declined since 2003, and rose significantly from the effects of the recession in 2009. In comparison with the total of all age groups, the rate is constantly high. Figure 6 Changes in Youth Unemployment Rate Source: "Labor Force Survey", Ministry of Internal affairs and Communications ○ Status of Part-time Workers Number of part-time workers is 1.76 million people. Number of part-time workers in the year of 2011 is 1.76 million people. If viewed by age group, it is 0.83 million people for 15-24 year-olds and 0.93 million people for 25-34 year-olds. *Due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the results for the year of 2011 exclude Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Figure 7 Changes in the Number of Part-Time Workers (million people) 2.50 25-34 years old 15-24 years old 2.08 2.17 2.14 2.01 2.00 1.87 1.81 1.70 1.78 1.83 1.76 0.91 0.98 0.99 1.50 0.97 0.92 0.92 0.87 0.91 0.97 0.93 1.00 1.17 1.19 1.15 0.50 1.04 0.95 0.89 0.83 0.87 0.86 0.83 0.00 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (Year) Source: “Labor Force Survey (Detailed Tabulation)”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ○ Status of the youths who are not currently in education, employment or training (NEETs) The number of NEETs is 0.6 million people. The number of the youths who are not currently in education, employment or training (among 15- 34 year-old) has become 0.6 million people. Breaking down into: 90 thousand people for 15-19 year-olds, 150 thousand people for 20-24 year-olds, 180 thousand people for 25-29 year-olds, and 180 thousand people for 30-34 year-olds. *Due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the results for the year of 2011 exclude Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Figure 8 Changes in the number of unemployed youth 15〜19 yrs. old 20〜24 yrs. Old 25〜29 yrs. Old (thousand people) 30〜34 yrs. Old 35〜39yrs. Old 900 800 （790) (790) (810) (810) (800) (810) (840) (840) (810) (800) 700 150 150 170 170 180 190 200 210 210 200 Reference 600 500 170 180 180 190 180 180 190 180 170 180 Unemployed 400 180 190 Youth 300 640180 640 640200 640180 620180 620180 640180 630 170 600180 600 200 170 160 180 160 170 160 160 160 150 150 100 120 110 100 90 100 90 90 100 90 90 00 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (year) Source: “Labor Force Survey”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Chapter 3 Safety and Problematic Behavior ○ Situation of Crime Victims The number of children who became victims of welfare violations decreased compared to the previous year. In the year 2011, the number of children who became victims of crimes of welfare violations, such as the violations of the Act on Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (Act 52 of 1999), the Act on Child Welfare (Act 164 of 1947), and the regulations of local governments, was 7,332 people, which is 8 people (0.1%) less compared to the previous year. Among them, the children who became victims according to the Act on Child Prostitution and Child Pornography was 1,219 people, which is 136 people (10.0%) less compared to the previous year. Figure 9 Trends in the Number of Penal Code Offenses known to police in which juveniles were victimized (persons) Preschooler 10,000 Elementary school student Lower secondary school students Upper secondary school students 9,000 Other student Employed Juvenile Unemployed Juvenile 8,000 7,364 7,304 7,456 7,627 7,258 7,375 7,340 7,332 7,014 7,145 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (year) Source: National Police Agency ○ Number of Consultations Related to Child Abuse The number of consultations related to child abuse is increasing every year. The number of consultations related to child abuse in Child Guidance Centers is 56.4 thousand (increased by 27.5% compared to the previous fiscal year). Figure 10 Trends in the Number of Cases for Consultation for Child Abuse in Child Guidance Center (cases) (cases) 60,000 56,384 55,000 50,000 44,211 45,000 42,664 40,639 40,000 37,323 35,000 33,408 34,472 30,000 26,569 25,000 23,274 23,738 20,000 17,725 15,000 11,631 10,000 6,932 5,000 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 (year) Source: “Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services", Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare ○ The Contents of the Consultations Related to Child Abuse The most common content is physical abuse, followed by neglect and psychological abuse. As for the contents of the consultations related to child abuse in the fiscal year 2010, the physical abuse is highest at 38.2%, followed by neglect (32.5%), and then psychological abuse (26.7%). Figure 11 The number of consultations on child abuse in child guidance centers by the contents Neglect or refusal Psychological Classification Total Physical abuse of protection Sexual abuse abuse <Neglect> <100％> <38.2％> <32.5％> <2.5％> <26.7％> FY 2010 56,384 21,559 18,352 1,405 15,068 Source: “Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services", Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare ○ Internet Usage by Children and Young People Most of high school students own a mobile phone and use the Internet. Ownership rate of mobile phones (including PHS) is 20.3% among elementary school students, 47.8% among middle school students, and 95.6% among high school students. Utilization of the Internet by mobile phones is 15.2% in elementary school, 45.8% in middle school, and 95.1% in high school students. Many of the young people that own a mobile phone use the Internet. Figure 12 Rate of Mobile Phone Owners and Rate of Internet Users Among Youth Elementary school student 20.3(133 persons) (total) 15.2(100 persons) (n=656） Lower secondary school 47.8(351 persons) student (total) 45.8(336 persons) (n=734) Upper secondary school 95.6(545 persons) student (total) 95.1(542 persons) (n=570) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 (%) Ownership rate of mobile phones Internet usage rate due to mobile phones Source: "The Fifth Survey on Information Society and Japanese Youth", Cabinet Office ○ Child Victims related to Online Dating Sites The number of children who became crime victims by using “Online Dating Sites” is 282 people. In 2011, the number of child crime victims by using "Online Dating Sites” was 282 people. By type of crime, 182 victims (64.5%) is related to the violations of the Act on Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, followed by 46 people (16.3%) related to the regulations of local governments. In 2011, the number of child crime victims by using community sites other than "Online Dating Sites” was 1,085 people. By type of crime, 637 victims (58.7%) is related to the violations of the regulation of the local governments, followed by 393 people (36.2%) related to the Act on child Prostitution and Child Pornography. ○ Juvenile Penal Code Offenders The number of people arrested for juvenile penal code offenses has been declining in recent years. The number of juveniles who committed penal code offenses in 2011 was 77.7 thousand people (decreased by 8.2 thousand people (9.5%), compared with the previous year). The ratio to the youth population (the number of juveniles arrested per 1,000 persons of the same age group) was 10.7 (decreased by 1.1% from the previous year). The population ratio is 4.9 times as much as that of adults. Figure 13 Trends in the Number of Juveniles Arrested for Penal Code Offenses and Ratio to Youth Population (thousand persons) 500 20.0 Number of arrested 14 to 19 years old Number of arrested 20 years old and older 18.0 Ratio to population 14 to 19 years old 400 Ratio to population 20 years old and older 16.0 14.0 300 12.0 P ns  op umber of persoarrested200 81.00.0 ulationraito N 6.0 100 4.0 2.0 0 0.0 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1989 1993 1998 2003 2008 2011 (year) Source: National Police Agency