Did you know that Fukuoka Prefecture has a 24/7/365 sexual assault hotline? In 2014, the number of known sexual assault cases in the prefecture reached 499, or fifth in Japan, and since 2010, Fukuoka has ranked second in Japan in the number of assault cases per 10,000 people. In 2010, the Prefecture opened the Sexual Assault Victim Support Center, and in December 2015, consultation hours were shifted to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The hotline number is 092-762-0799 and your confidentiality is guaranteed. In its first month of 24-hour operation, the Center received 26 consultations during the new expanded hours (midnight~9:00) and tallied 114 consultations for the entire month, the first time it has topped 100 since opening. A Center representative said it is very important to have a 24/7 hotline since many sexual assaults occur at night. So far, it appears as if the effect of the expanded hours of operation is a positive one. Source: Fukuoka Pref. website, 11/27
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