Japan’s parliament has raised the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, a limit that had remained unchanged for over a century and was among the world’s lowest The change came amid calls for greater protection of children and women
Key points of the new legislation include:
- Sexual intercourse with someone younger than 16 will now be considered rape
- The new law bans the filming, distribution, and possession of sexually exploitative images taken without consent
- Japan last revised its criminal code on sexual crimes in 2017, for the first time in more than a century
- The age of consent in other countries varies, with 16 in Britain, 15 in France, and 14 in Germany and China
The changes were prompted by a series of acquittals in cases of sexual abuse and growing instances of sexual images taken of girls and women without their consent, which triggered public outrage Advocates of stricter sex crimes laws welcomed the changes but said more needed to be done to ensure greater protection of women and girls in Japan
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What other reforms have been made to Japan’s laws on sexual crimes?
Japan has recently enacted laws to reform sex offense charges and raise the age of consent from 13 to 16. The new legislation also includes other reforms to Japan’s laws on sexual crimes, which are listed below:
- Sexual intercourse with someone younger than 16 will now be considered rape, and the definition of rape was broadened to “non-consensual sexual intercourse” from “forcible sexual intercourse”, aligning Japanese law’s definition with other countries
- The new law explicitly outlines eight scenarios where it is difficult for a victim to “form, express, or fulfill an intention not to consent” to sexual intercourse
- The statute of limitations or legal window for reporting rape will be extended to 15 years from 10 years, to give survivors more time to come forward
- New laws passed on Friday also ban “photo voyeurism” which include upskirting and secret filming of sexual acts
- Japan last revised its criminal code on sexual crimes in 2017, for the first time in more than a century, but campaigners said the reforms were insufficient
These reforms were prompted by a series of acquittals in cases of sexual abuse and growing instances of sexual images taken of girls and women without their consent, which triggered public outrage. While advocates of stricter sex crimes laws welcomed the changes, they said more needed to be done to ensure greater protection of women and girls in Japan
What is the punishment for nonconsensual sexual acts under the new law in Japan?
Under the new law in Japan, nonconsensual sexual acts are considered rape, and the punishment for this crime is up to 15 years in prison. The new legislation redefines rape as “non-consensual sexual intercourse” from “forcible sexual intercourse,” aligning Japanese law’s definition with other countries.
- The new law explicitly outlines eight scenarios where it is difficult for a victim to “form, express, or fulfill an intention not to consent” to sexual intercourse
- . The statute of limitations for prosecution of nonconsensual intercourse will be extended from 10 to 15 years
- . Meanwhile, the punishment for “photo voyeurism,” which includes upskirting and secret filming of sexual acts, can be up to three years in prison
- . It is important to note that the punishment for rape is more severe if the victim is under the age of 16, which is now the new age of consent in Japan
Japan raises the age of consent from 13 to 16
Yes, that’s correct. Japan’s parliament passed legislation on June 17, 2023, to raise the age of consent from 13 to 16. The new law also redefines rape as nonconsensual sexual intercourse, removing the provisions regarding use of force. The changes were made in response to calls for greater protection of children and women from sexual abuse.
The previous age of consent of 13 had been in place for over a century and was one of the lowest in the world. It had been criticized by human rights groups and others who argued that it did not adequately protect children from sexual exploitation.
The new law will take effect on April 1, 2024. However, there are some exceptions. For example, it will still be legal for a 16-year-old to have sex with a partner who is less than three years older.
The passage of the new law is a significant step forward for child protection in Japan. However, it is important to note that the law is only one part of the solution. There is also a need for greater awareness of child sexual abuse and for better support services for victims.
Here are some additional details about the new law:
- The age of consent is now 16 for both heterosexual and same-sex relations.
- The law also defines rape as nonconsensual sexual intercourse, regardless of whether force or coercion was used.
- There are some exceptions to the age of consent, such as if the two partners are married or if the older partner is less than three years older than the younger partner.
- The law also creates new offenses, such as sexual harassment and child pornography.
The passage of the new law is a welcome development, but it is important to note that it is not a perfect solution. There are still some loopholes in the law, and it is not clear how effectively it will be enforced. However, the law is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that it will help to protect children from sexual abuse in Japan.
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