The regulations on the Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center stipulated under the Law for the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims (Law No. 31 of 2001) became effective in April, 2002. Thus, women's counseling centers or other suitable institutes established by individual prefectural governments started to play the role of support centers and provide information relating to utilizing protection orders as regulated under the Law in response to inquiries from victims.