2023-06-16 11:27:00
Japan’s upper house of parliament has unanimously approved a bill that would raise the age of consent for sex from 13 to 16. informs The Guardian. This rule has not changed since 1907.
The bill also clarifies the requirements for prosecuting rape and criminalizes voyeurism. The new law clarifies that sex between people who are at least 13 years old and whose age difference is no more than five years will not be punishable.
The current age of consent in Japan is one of the lowest among developed countries. recalls BBC news. The age of consent is 14 in Germany and Italy, 15 in France and 16 in the UK.
Under current law, a rape victim in Japan must prove that she was abused and that she was unable to resist. This provision will remain in the new law, but now additional criteria will be added, in particular, assault, psychological pressure, and the effects of alcohol and drugs.
In addition, the statute of limitations for filing allegations of rape will increase from 10 to 15 years.
In Japan, they decided to reform the law in 2019, when protests took place in the country due to several cases of acquittal of rape accused by the courts. In one case, the court acquitted a man who was accused of raping a woman who was drunk. In another case, a man was released after having had sex with his teenage daughter for several years against her will. After the protests, the decisions of the courts were reviewed.
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