Meredith Freidheim
One of today’s largest global issues is children in conflict zones. Japan is one of the most
war-active countries today. We have been involved in wars, such as World II, that have caused
our country great despair. A large part of this great despair has been involved with children in
these conflict zones. Children have been exposed to things such as killing, maiming, rape, and
military recruitment. Japan has the Punishing Act Child Abuse Prevention Law to protect child
rights. Japan is a country focused on protecting its’ people and their rights.
Japan has had a long history with war. For example, many children were affected by the
Hiroshima bombing in the 1940s. They were left orphaned and no where to go. Since then, Japan
has remade many of their child protection laws to ensure that nothing like that would happen
again. Laws such as the International Humanitarian Law clearly states that, “ Children’s rights
must be protected in times of conflict.”Although Japan is not currently in a severe conflict zone,
it has experienced it in the past. A few years ago when the tsunami hit it left many children
orphaned. Organizations such as the Red Cross worked with families to provide food, water, and
education for these children and their families. This is a problem that continues to exist in Japan
even today, and it needs to be fixed immediately.
Currently, Japan could possibly be at risk as a conflict zone. With tensions heating
between China and Japan in the ocean over an island dispute, Japan could be at risk as a conflict
zone. Actions that could be taken to protect families and children would be to make sure that
organizations like the Red Cross are standing by and ready to help if it is needed. It is also
important to remember the rights that children do have in times of conflict and to make sure that
they are enforced. When Japan is at war, or a natural disaster occurs, children can get mixed up
with it sometimes. That is why it is important to keep their rights in mind and always be prepared
for what could happen at any moment.