The Basic Act on Crime Victims, which was put into force on April 1, 2005, defines that the government shall establish the Basic Plan for Crime Victims, including outlines of measures to be conducted for crime victims, etc. comprehensively on a long-term basis, so as to promote measures for crime victims, etc. in a comprehensive and planned way.
  On December 27, 2005, this Basic Plan for Crime Victims was approved in a Cabinet meeting. The Plan contains four basic policies, five priority issues, and 258 concrete measures thereunder, in order to realize society where the rights and benefits of crime victims, etc. can be protected. Furthermore, the Plan defines the system for related agencies including government administrative organs to cooperate and collaborate with each other and carry out respective measures from the viewpoint of crime victims, etc.
  In light of the purport and purpose of the Basic Act on Crime Victims, it was considered necessary to develop legislation immediately for further protecting the rights and benefits of crime victims, etc. in criminal proceedings. Therefore, on September 6, 2006, the Minister of Justice consulted the Legislative Council, requesting to show the outline of the development guidelines with regard to the following matters: (1) the system to utilize the achievement of criminal proceedings concerning claim for damages; (2) expansion of the scope of inspection and copying of public trial records; (3) protection of information concerning crime victims, etc. (the system under which names, etc. of victims of sexual offenses, etc. shall not be disclosed in open courts and the system under which it shall be allowed to request the counterparty not to disclose names, etc. of victims of sexual offenses, etc. to parties concerned upon discovery); and (4) the system under which crime victims, etc. can directly be involved in criminal trials.