E/C.12/JPN/CO /3 discourages older persons from applying for public welfare benefits. The Committee is further concerned that the changes introduced in to the Act on Partial Revision of the National Pension Act to Support Securing of Income for Those Later in Life through National Pension and Corporate Pension leave many older persons without pension benefits (art. 9). The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation calling on the State party to introduce a minimum guaranteed pension into the national pension system. The Committee also calls on the State party to take measures to simplify the procedures for applying for public welfare benefits and to ensure that applicants are treated with dignity. The Committee also recommends that the State party educate the population with a view to eliminating the stigma attached to public welfare benefits. The Committee requests the State party to provide in its next periodic report information on the situation of older persons, including hibakusha, disaggregated by sex, source and level of income. The Committee refers the State party to its general comments No. 6 (1995) on the economic, social and cultural rights of older persons and No. 19 (200 7) on the right to social security. 23. The Committee notes with concern that, while violations of restraining orders against violent spouses are punished under the revised Act on the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims, spousal violence and marital rape are not explicitly criminalized (art. 10). The Committee urges the State party to criminalize spousal violence, including marital rape. The Committee requests the State party to update the Committee in its next periodic report on the establishment of Spousal Violence Counselling and Support Centres and the implementation of basic plans by municipalities as well as their impact on reducing spousal violence. 24. Noting the complexity of relief response to the consequences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident, the Committee is concerned that the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, such as older persons, persons with disabilities, and women and children, were not sufficiently met during the evacuation and in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts (art. 11, 2(2)). Noting that the lessons learned from the consequences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident have led to the adoption of new arrangements to better respond to the needs of affected communities, including vulnerable groups, in future relief and reconstruction efforts, the Committee recommends that the State party adopt a human rights -based approach to disaster response, risk mitigation and reconstruction efforts. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that disaster management plans do not discriminate or lead to discrimination in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee requests the State party to provide in its next periodic report comprehensive information, including statistical data disaggregated by sex and vulnerable group, on the management of the consequences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident as well as on victims’ enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights during the evacuation and in the rehabilitation and reconstruction works. The Committee also requests the State party to include information on how victims’ right to justice has been guaranteed. 25. The Committee reiterates its concern about the lack of transparency and disclosure of necessary information regarding the safety of nuclear power installations and at the insufficient nationwide community preparation for the prevention and handling of nuclear 6