1. Hotline & Content Removal Requests
In January 2025, we received hotlines from 394 new individuals, marking the highest number of hotline in a single month to date. Many inquiries were related to sextortion and revenge porn, while concerns regarding adult video (pornography) appearances and the sex industry also continued. Phone hotline were frequently used at night and in the late hours, reaffirming the importance of 24-hour availability. We have identified three key areas of support that are essential: technical assistance for rapid blocking and reporting, legal knowledge dissemination, and psychological support.
A recent trend in sextortion cases involves perpetrators using Instagram video calls to coerce victims into undressing or engaging in sexual acts, then recording the footage and threatening to distribute it unless a payment is made. The demanded payment methods often include Apple iTunes cards, PayPal, and Amazon gift cards. However, once payment is made, additional payments are continuously demanded. Some victims, driven by fear, continued to pay, ultimately finding themselves in an escalating cycle of threats. A significant number of victims were teenagers and young adults in their twenties. Among minors, many could not confide in their parents and suffered severe regret and self-loathing, questioning why they had sent their images or trusted the perpetrator.
Many victims also refrained from seeking help from their families and instead carried the burden alone. Some developed severe anxiety, fearing that their images were being viewed by strangers, which disrupted their daily lives. Regarding the distribution of explicit images, we work closely with our content removal team to issue takedown requests as quickly as possible. Recently, an increasing number of non-consensually distributed sexual images and videos have been spread using Cloudflare’s Content Delivery Network (CDN). Perpetrators exploit Cloudflare’s services to remain anonymous and evade removal requests. In response, PAPS’ international coordination team and content removal team held a meeting with Cloudflare to discuss the current situation in Japan. We aim to ensure that companies recognize the gravity of this issue and work together to implement solutions for victim support.
2. Outreach, Night Café, & Shelter Facilities
During January’s outreach activities, we reached out to 188 women, primarily aged from their late teens to late twenties, in urban entertainment districts, providing information and support as needed. Particular attention was given to minors and young women who appeared vulnerable—those carrying large bags, wearing insufficient clothing for the cold, showing signs of poor health, or appearing severely underweight.
One case involved a young woman in her late teens who was approached as she was leaving a hotel with a sex buyer. We provided her with support. In another case, we assisted a woman who told us she had no place to stay by directing her to our shelter facility, Hitsuji House.
Some teenage women we encountered held the belief that "if you work in the sex industry, being victimized is inevitable." We informed them of recent legal reforms that significantly altered the standards for consent and non-consent in sexual acts. We also shared cases where perpetrators were identified and arrested, as well as instances where victims were able to receive proper support. This led to in-depth discussions at our café, where we provided concrete support to them.
＜Predators Targeting Children and Women’s Health & Dignity＞
Predators continue to target young women and children, with perpetrators including both Japanese individuals and suspected foreign tourists engaging in child prostitution. During outreach activities, our PAPS staff members themselves were repeatedly approached and persistently solicited by individuals attempting to purchase sex.
As police crackdowns intensify, women living on the streets are forced to relocate from well-known areas to hidden locations, including indoor spaces. Some of the women arrested under Japan’s Prostitution Prevention Law had no idea what a lawyer was, highlighting the urgent need for support during incarceration.
The number of visitors to our Night Café also increased, with 199 people utilizing the facility in January. On the busiest day, up to 24 individuals sought refuge there. The visitors varied in background, including groups of middle and high school girls and groups of young women in their early twenties, each with different needs and reasons for coming to the café.
3. Legal Reforms & Policy Advocacy
On January 10, 2025, as part of the Criminal Code Reform Citizens’ Project, PAPS submitted a petition to Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, requesting the proper implementation of amendments to the legal provisions on sex crimes.
PAPS specifically called for measures against "digital sexual violence," in which sexually explicit images and videos are rapidly disseminated online. This constitutes a serious human rights violation occurring in real-time. Without immediate intervention, the situation will only deteriorate, and thus, urgent countermeasures are necessary.
4. Your Support
In December, donations amounted to approximately 1.06 million yen, and in January, they exceeded 480,000 yen. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support. Your contributions play a crucial role in addressing sexual exploitation.
Currently, we are receiving an increasing number of victim hotline. We look forward to sharing further updates in our March newsletter.
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