The World Briefly
June 19, 2023Inching Upward
Japan
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Japan raised the age of consent from 13 to 16 and broadened the definition of rape, measures many sexual assault victims have argued are long overdue, the New York Times reported.
Lawmakers in the upper house approved a new sexual crimes law that will define rape as “nonconsensual sexual intercourse,” and removes a previous requirement that the crime includes physical force.
It specifies various conditions under which a person might be afraid to say no to sex, including when a victim is intoxicated or when an offender “frightens or startles” them. The statute of limitations for filing rape charges was also raised from 10 to 15 years.
The raising of the age of consent is the first time the country has altered it in more than 100 years. Japan has long had one of the lowest ages of consent among wealthy nations, which left children vulnerable to sexual abuse by adults.
Under the new provisions, engaging in sexual activities with those between the ages of 13 to 15 will be considered a criminal offense if the perpetrator is at least five years older than the minor.
Activists for victims of sexual assault welcomed the amendments as a “great step forward.”
They hope that the new legislation will encourage more people to report sexual assaults.
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