Japan raises age of consent for intercourse from 13 to 16, redefines rape, criminalises voyeurism

By India Today World Desk: Japan’s Parliament on Friday raised the age of consent from 13, among the many lowest on the planet, to 16 after unanimous help within the higher House. The historic reform additionally clarifies the grounds for rape prosecutions and criminalises voyeurism.

Human rights teams welcomed the reform and termed it a serious leap ahead.

The age of consent, under which any sexual exercise is taken into account rape, is totally different in several international locations. India has set 18 because the age of consent, whereas it’s 16 in Britain and 14 in Germany and China.

Speaking to the press, one of many human rights organisations stated that this reform will move a message to society that sexual violence by adults towards toddlers is unacceptable.

Under the brand new regulation, nonetheless, juvenile {couples} with an age hole of lower than or as much as 5 years won’t be prosecuted if each companions are above 13 years of age.

The current reform handed by Japan’s parliament got here after a wait of greater than a century because it final modified in 1907.

However, legal guidelines handed by many regional centres banned “obscene acts” with minors and successfully raised the age of consent to 18.

Japan final reformed its felony code on sexual offences in 2017, for the primary time in additional than a century, however human rights teams then termed the reforms as ‘too little and too late”.

In 2019, Japan witnessed widespread protests across the country by different groups against the high rate of acquittals in cases of sexual offences against minors.

Notably, under the old law, prosecutors had to prove victims were debilitated due to violence and intimidation. Critics argued that the requirement effectively blamed victims for not resisting enough.

Speaking to the media about the old law, a law ministry official said, clarifications were not “meant to make it simpler or tougher” to secure rape convictions, but “will hopefully make court docket verdicts extra constant”.

The bill that was passed by the Japanese Parliament on Friday also contains a list of examples under which rape prosecutions can be made. These include victims being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being frightened and perpetrators taking advantage of their social status.

The newly passed bill also provides for “visitation request offenses”, in response to regulation ministry officers.

Under the brand new regulation, anybody who makes use of seduction, intimidation or cash to lure youngsters below 16 for sexual functions will face a jail sentence of as much as a 12 months or a high-quality of practically Rs 3 lakh.

The reforms additionally embrace sections that for the primary time criminalise infringement of privateness. It was earlier regulated by the regulation of regional centres.

A penalty of as much as three years imprisonment or a high-quality of as much as Rs 18 lakh can be imposed if somebody is confirmed responsible of secretly filming personal physique components, innerwear or indecent acts and not using a justifiable motive.

Responding to the media’s questions in regards to the newly handed regulation, Japanese residents welcomed the brand new regulation. However, in addition they confirmed their disappointment with the delay within the formulation of such legal guidelines.