Protecting the Identity and Privacy of the Victim of Sexual Violence
Prohibition of Disclosing the Victim’s Identity and Privacy- The public official or previous public official involved in the investigation or trial of a sexual violence case shall not disclose or leak secrets regarding the victim’s identity or privacy to another person. The information to keep confidential includes the victim’s address, name, age, occupation, school, appearance, photo, other personal information by which it is possible to ascertain the victim’s identity, photograph, and privacy (Article 24, paragraph 1 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, Etc. of Sexual Crimes).
- The head, official, or previous head or official of a sexual violence counseling center, protection institution for victims of sexual violence, or integrative support center shall not leak confidential information obtained during business (Article 30 of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act).
Safety Measures and Protection of Personal Affairs- Suppose the prosecutor determines that the assailant, or the assailant’s family, colleague, or acquaintance might seek revenge when the victim appears in the investigation agency or court. In this case, by official authority or upon the victim’s application, the prosecutor shall request the support center official or the victim support center to appear and accompany the victim at the investigation agency or in court and when returning home for protection (Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, 「Guidelines to Protect and Support the Victim of Crime 」, Article 22 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, Etc. of Sexual Crimes, and Article 7 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes).