The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has ordered prefectural governments to make sure their child welfare agencies are complying with a newly enacted law against child abuse.
The action is being taken in response to increasing public complaints over the nation's child-abuse protection system, which is being scrutinized following a rash of child deaths at the hands of legal guardians.
In an order issued at a meeting of senior prefectural welfare officials earlier this month, the ministry demanded that prefectural governments' welfare departments and local child welfare centers make the prevention of child abuse a priority.