A country notorious for its high bar for prosecution of sexual assault cases, Japan, has finally raised the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16. The previous limit had been unchanged for more than a century and was among the lowest in the developed world. This amendment was part of the revamping of the laws related to sex crimes, which also brought along a new definition of what constitutes rape.
The new law makes it easier to charge an assailant with rape, as any sexual activity without consent is now considered rape. It also defines situations in which a victim is not able to consent due to intoxication or unconsciousness, or when minors are groomed by authority figures, as rape. This brings the law in line with most other countries worldwide.
In addition, the statute of limitations for filing rape charges has been extended from 10 to 15 years, and penalties for groping minors and sexual exploitation via manipulation on the internet have also been increased. There are exceptions to the law, however, where it would be legal for 13 to 15-year-olds to have consensual sex with a partner who is less than five years older than them.
The reform was long sought by members of the public, and it brought Japan up to speed with its neighboring countries. In fact, Japan was the only member of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations that did not have LGBTQ+ legal protections. But this changed on the same day as the sexual consent law, with the passing of a new law to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
However, the new LGBTQ+ law was criticized for not guaranteeing equal rights for sexual minorities. It threatened them instead of promoting equality because of last-minute changes that apparently catered to opponents of transgender rights. The law does not clearly ban discrimination, and activists say the governing party prioritized the concerns of opponents of equal rights over the rights of sexual minorities.
Despite its conservative values and reluctance to promote gender equality and sexual diversity, support for same-sex marriage and other rights has grown among the Japanese public. This change in law is a step in the right direction for Japan in its journey towards gender equality and protection of its citizens.
References
- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/06/16/national/crime-legal/japan-raises-age-of-consent/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/16/japan-age-of-sexual-consent-16/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/world/asia/japan-rape-law-consent.html
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-s-age-of-consent-raised-by-2-years-1.754941
- https://thehill.com
