For more than a century, Japanese law has allowed a 13-year-old child to consent sexually without external coercion. The Japanese parliament, however, on Friday, June 16, approved the increase of the sexual majority.
The minimum legal age of consent in France is 15, compared to 16 in the UK and South Korea, and 14 in Germany and China. Any sexual relationship between an adult and a minor under this age is considered rape. However, since 1907, the age of majority has been set at 13 in Japan, the country where it was the lowest in the world. However, Japan’s parliament approved raising the age of consent from 13 to 16 on Friday, June 16. This legislative reform, designed to combat sexual harassment, was unanimously passed by the Upper House. It specifies the prerequisites for criminal prosecution for rape and criminalizes voyeurism.
“Indecent” actions
Under the new legislation, anyone who uses intimidation, enticement or money to force minors under the age of 16 to have sex with them will now be punished by law. The culprits face up to one year in prison or a fine of ¥500,000 (€3,250). Sexual relations between two teenagers over the age of 13 will not be punished, but there must be no more than five years between the two partners. According to data from Japan’s National Police Agency, which lists 2,181 cases of sexual harassment in Japan in 2022, where minors and young girls will be exposed more than the international average. Medical consultations for suspected sexual abuse of a minor also amount to more than 115,000 if we are to be believed. Japan Times:.
In the video, Japanese people are encouraged not to wear makeup on the subway
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Prior to the adoption of this reform, the age of majority had already been raised in some regions of Japan. Departmental decisions banning “indecent” acts against minors are thus considered as “effectively raising the age of sexual consent to 18,” AFP points out. Japan also made changes to its anti-sexual violence laws in 2017. However, some felt that this reform did not go far enough. Indeed, prosecutors still have to prove that the defendants used “violence and intimidation” to obtain any convictions. In 2019, a series of acquittals in rape cases sparked protests across the country.
Source: Le Figaro
