Polaris Post Volume 28
 October 2009
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* Polaris Project to Start Drop-in for Young Women*

I wouldn't dare to tell my teachers, or my parents.
I don't think I should say it to my friends...

Polaris Project has a place for girls and young women to voice such
worries in a comfortable, non-threatening environment.

We have started a drop-in center for young women since September 2009.
The drop-in center is a place for young women to come and talk safely
It is open on Saturday nights, twice a month.
It has an expert staff who can consult problems young women may have,
such as dating violence, family violence, psychological and
physical issues.
The center will hold workshops on prevention of sex crime
victimization.

The targets are users of Polaris Project's SOS website for young
women (http://www.pol214.com/） as well as other women in their
teens and twenties.

An increasing number of young women are victimized by sex crimes
such as coerced prostitution through Internet dating websites.

Polaris Project is working toward awareness raising and preventing
human trafficking by providing a drop-in center, where young women
can come and talk freely.

For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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* Polaris Project's Coordinator will be appearing on TV

TV Tokyo "TV Mayokara" Do you know Dating Violence?
Aired on Thursday, October 15, 26:00-
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/mayokara/

The topic is domestic violence, which is increasing among young
dating couples.
Some human trafficking victims are in similar relationships with
their perpetrators, who use violence to control them.
The program will features discussions with the host and young people.
Please tune in on Thursday midnight.

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* Human Trafficking Related News (in Japanese)
 http://www.polarisproject.jp/cases

In September 2009, a Thai woman who was working in a snack bar in
Nagano was found guilty of overstaying her visa.
In court, the woman said that she had been in prostitution in a snack bar
in Gunma to repay her debts, and that she had wanted
to be arrested to go back to Thailand.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/flash/KFullFlash20090928021.html
(full story in Japanese)

Polaris Project wonders why the woman, who was a victim of
human trafficking, should be prosecuted, found guilty, and kept under
detention by the Immigration Bureau.

Polaris Project is a member of JNATIP (Japan Network Against
Trafficking in Persons) and working with other NPOs to participate
in the discussion to revise the Japanese government's National Plan
of Action on trafficking.
We will continue to advocate for a comprehensive revision of the
plan to cover protection of victims, prosecution of perpetrators,
and prevention of human trafficking.

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* October Polaris Monthly Seminar Postponed: Next Seminar will be
on Saturday, November 14, from 6pm.

Polaris Project's Monthly Seminar, "How do we stop commercial sexual
exploitation of children?" was planned to have an October session
with a speaker who works in the field of social welfare of children,
but unfortunately we had to postpone the session to December.

The next seminar will be on Saturday, November 14, from 6pm, with a
lawyer who is an expert in violence against women and children.
We will post the notice on Polaris Post and our website when the
registration opens. Please stay tuned!

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*Polaris: SOS website for girls http://www.pol214.com/ (in Japanese)

*Booklet "It's Happening to Her, Right Now" On Sale
http://www.polarisproject.jp/news/42-news/279-book (in Japanese)

*The Body Shop to launch "Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and
 Young People" Campaign
 Polaris's website is featured in their campaign.
http://www.the-body-shop.co.jp/values/stop_traffic/stop_trafficking_01.html
(in Japanese)

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*You can be a Polaris Supporter with continues monthly donation
starting from 1,000 yen per month.
http://www.polarisproject.jp/donate (in Japanese)
If you join now, the booklet "It’s Happening to Her, Right Now"
will be given as a welcome gift!

*Turn your online shopping into actions to support Polaris through
E-Kokoro http://www.ekokoro.jp/ngo/polaris/index.html
(Donation website in Japanese)

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Issued by Polaris Project Japan　http://www.polarisproject.jp
P.O. Box 716, Shibuya Post Office, Tokyo 100-8692
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