Japan has announced its biggest overhaul of laws around sex crimes. It has reworked the definition of rape and raised the age of consent from 13 to 16.

Gravitas: Japan redefines rape, raises the age of consent

Japan has become the latest country to alter its definition of rape. The Asian country has passed laws that redefine rape and raise the age of consent. Moving forward, the definition of rape includes "non consensual sexual intercourse" which is a stark contrast to the previous definition of "forcible sexual intercourse".

Japan has become the latest country to alter its definition of rape. The Asian country has passed laws that redefine rape and raise the age of consent. Moving forward, the definition of rape includes "non consensual sexual intercourse" which is a stark contrast to the previous definition of "forcible sexual intercourse". The Lower House of the Japanese parliament passed the bill last month and the Upper House did the same on Friday. Additionally, the legal window for reporting rape has been raised to 15 years from 10 years, to give survivors more time to come forward. The age of consent has been raised from 13, among the world's lowest, to 16 years old. Although a caveat has been added, which states that a person who has had sex with a minor aged 13 to 15 will only be punished if they are five or more years older than the minor. The language of the law lays down eight scenarios where an individual victim is unable to provide consent to sexual intercourse. These include the situation when the victim is intoxicated with alcohol or drugs or has been threatened using violence. Another scenario takes into measure the abuse of power, which usually occurs in place of work where refusal to engage in sexual acts with a powerful person can have devastating effects. Japan, largely has been a conservative country where victims of sexual assaults are seen in a bad light. A 2021 government survey showed it is due to this stigma that only about six per cent of men and women reported an assault to the police, and nearly half of the women said they couldn’t do so because of “embarrassment”. Changing rape definition works Changing the definition of rape has shown tangible results. In 2018, Sweden changed the legal definition rape to sex without consent, akin to the one in Japan. As a result, the National Council on Crime Prevention (Bra) noted that convictions had risen from 190 in 2017 to 333 in 2019. “We were surprised there was such an increase. It’s a good sign. This has led to greater justice for victims of rape," Bra senior researcher Stina Holmberg said at the time. Also read | Japan brings legislation to ban upskirting, secret filming of sexual acts Japan attempts to keep sexual crimes in check The Japanese government has been amending the laws to tackle increased sexual crimes. Last month, a bill was brought in that prohibits "upskirting" (taking pictures up a girl's skirt unbeknownst to her) and secret filming of sexual acts. The gropers, often called "chikan" in the local language, prey on women, especially in the famously crowded public transport system. For long, there had been demands from the public to bring a law making the offence punishable. WATCH | Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover × Reports state that anyone found violating the law could face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $22,000 (Three million Japanese yen). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Japan alters definition of rape after passing landmark bill in parliament

In a significant and groundbreaking development, Japan, a country that previously had one of the lowest ages of consent globally, has decided to increase the minimum age at which one can say yes to sexual relations. The pivotal move has raised Japan's age of consent from the previous 13 years old to 16 years old.

The new bill, as per the news agency AFP, also encompassed additional measures, such as clarifying the requirements for prosecuting rape cases and criminalising voyeurism. The bill which cleared Japan's lower house last month,&nbsp;successfully cleared the parliament's upper house by a unanimous vote&nbsp;on Friday.

This change marks a significant step towards strengthening legal protections for individuals, particularly minors, in matters concerning sexual relationships and crimes.

Here's all you need to know.

<h2>What does it mean by&nbsp;age of consent?</h2>

The age of consent is the minimum age at which sexual activity is legally permitted and below which it is considered statutory rape.

It varies in different countries. In Britain, the age of consent is set at 16 years old. In France, it is 15 years old. Germany and China have set the&nbsp;age of consent at 14 years old.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-alters-its-definition-of-rape-after-passing-landmark-bill-in-parliament-605128">Japan alters definition of rape after passing landmark bill in parliament</a>

<h2>When was Japan's age of consent last changed?</h2>

As per AFP, Japan's age of consent has remained unchanged for over a century. Thirteen years was set as the age of consent in the year 1907, and it meant that teenagers aged 13 or above were considered capable of consenting to sexual relations.

However, in many parts of Japan, regional ordinances have been implemented to ban "lewd" acts with minors.&nbsp;

These ordinances are sometimes perceived as effectively raising the age of consent to 18 years old, even though the national age of consent is officially lower.&nbsp;

<h2>Japan's new definition of rape</h2>

Japan's new law&nbsp;has broadened the&nbsp;definition of rape&nbsp;to "non-consensual sexual intercourse" from "forcible sexual intercourse".

The bill passed on Friday explicitly lists eight scenarios in which it may be challenging for a victim to refuse or express their lack of consent to engage in sexual intercourse. It&nbsp;also includes a list of circumstances under which rape prosecutions can be pursued. These include cases where victims were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cases where victims were frightened, and instances where perpetrators took advantage of their social status.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-parliament-passes-watered-down-lgbt-understanding-bill-that-gives-way-to-bigotry-605038">Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry</a>

With these clarifications, authorities have attempted to ensure more consistent court verdicts in rape cases. The clarifications are not "meant to make it easier or harder" to secure rape convictions, but "will hopefully make court verdicts more consistent," a justice ministry official told AFP.

<h2>Key provisions in the new law</h2>

Under Japan's new law, teenage couples who are no more than five years apart in age will be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over the age of 13. This provision aims to provide clarity and legal protections for consensual relationships between teenagers who are close in age.

According to the justice ministry, the bill also introduces a new offence called "visitation request offence". This offence targets individuals who use intimidation, seduction, or money to coerce children under the age of 16 into meeting for sexual purposes. Violators of this offence will face a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500).

<h2>Japan and rape cases before the new law</h2>

Previously, prosecutors were required to prove that victims were incapacitated due to violence and intimidation. This, the critics argued, unfairly shifted blame onto victims for not resisting enough.

In 2017, Japan made its first major revision to its criminal code on sexual offences in over a century. However, many campaigners argued that the reforms were inadequate.&nbsp;

According to a paper published by Oxford University Bar Society in the digital publishing platform Issuu, the 2017 Penal Code in Japan made some changes&nbsp;to the provisions of the previous 1907 law. Notably, it eliminated the limitation that only women can be recognised as victims of rape, thus broadening the scope of potential victims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/colombian-police-officer-sparks-meme-fest-after-swallowing-money-he-had-extorted-watch-viral-video-here-605092">Colombian police officer sparks meme fest after swallowing money he had extorted. Watch viral video here!</a>

However, another significant change in the law was the alteration of the name of the crime from "rape" to "crime of forcible sexual intercourse." The report suggests that this change in terminology could weaken the social understanding and perception of the crime. The power of naming is significant, as the term "rape" inherently carries a strong connotation of abuse, indicating a violation beyond mere physical violence.&nbsp;

"Rape labels an action that of abuse, rather than merely violence," it says.

<h2>Which countries have the lowest age of consent?</h2>

As per Wise Voter, Nigeria tops the list with the age of consent being only 11 years old. However, it must be noted that many regions within Nigeria have their own regional laws that set the age of consent higher.

In the Philippines and Angola, the age of consent is one year higher at 12 years old. The Philippines, however, has laws that criminalise specific acts with children under 18 years old, such as child exploitation and child trafficking.

Similar to Japan's previous age of consent, Burkina Faso, Niger and the East African island nation of Comoros prescribe that children above 13 years of age can consent to sexual relations.

China, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal have 14 years as the age of consent. While certain countries, such as Nigeria and those previously mentioned, have set the age at which individuals can legally consent to sexual activities at very low levels, there are several nations&nbsp;where the age of consent is much higher. These include Bahrain (21 years) and&nbsp;South Korea (20 years). 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a significant and groundbreaking development, Japan, a country that previously had one of the lowest ages of consent globally, has decided to increase the minimum age at which one can say yes to sexual relations.

In a significant and groundbreaking development, Japan, a country that previously had one of the lowest ages of consent globally, has decided to increase the minimum age at which one can say yes to sexual relations. The pivotal move has raised Japan's age of consent from the previous 13 years old to 16 years old. The new bill, as per the news agency AFP, also encompassed additional measures, such as clarifying the requirements for prosecuting rape cases and criminalising voyeurism. The bill which cleared Japan's lower house last month, successfully cleared the parliament's upper house by a unanimous vote on Friday. This change marks a significant step towards strengthening legal protections for individuals, particularly minors, in matters concerning sexual relationships and crimes. Here's all you need to know. What does it mean by age of consent? The age of consent is the minimum age at which sexual activity is legally permitted and below which it is considered statutory rape. It varies in different countries. In Britain, the age of consent is set at 16 years old. In France, it is 15 years old. Germany and China have set the age of consent at 14 years old. Also read | Japan alters definition of rape after passing landmark bill in parliament When was Japan's age of consent last changed? As per AFP, Japan's age of consent has remained unchanged for over a century. Thirteen years was set as the age of consent in the year 1907, and it meant that teenagers aged 13 or above were considered capable of consenting to sexual relations. However, in many parts of Japan, regional ordinances have been implemented to ban "lewd" acts with minors. These ordinances are sometimes perceived as effectively raising the age of consent to 18 years old, even though the national age of consent is officially lower. Japan's new definition of rape Japan's new law has broadened the definition of rape to "non-consensual sexual intercourse" from "forcible sexual intercourse". The bill passed on Friday explicitly lists eight scenarios in which it may be challenging for a victim to refuse or express their lack of consent to engage in sexual intercourse. It also includes a list of circumstances under which rape prosecutions can be pursued. These include cases where victims were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cases where victims were frightened, and instances where perpetrators took advantage of their social status. Also read | Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry With these clarifications, authorities have attempted to ensure more consistent court verdicts in rape cases. The clarifications are not "meant to make it easier or harder" to secure rape convictions, but "will hopefully make court verdicts more consistent," a justice ministry official told AFP. Key provisions in the new law Under Japan's new law, teenage couples who are no more than five years apart in age will be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over the age of 13. This provision aims to provide clarity and legal protections for consensual relationships between teenagers who are close in age. According to the justice ministry, the bill also introduces a new offence called "visitation request offence". This offence targets individuals who use intimidation, seduction, or money to coerce children under the age of 16 into meeting for sexual purposes. Violators of this offence will face a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500). Japan and rape cases before the new law Previously, prosecutors were required to prove that victims were incapacitated due to violence and intimidation. This, the critics argued, unfairly shifted blame onto victims for not resisting enough. In 2017, Japan made its first major revision to its criminal code on sexual offences in over a century. However, many campaigners argued that the reforms were inadequate. According to a paper published by Oxford University Bar Society in the digital publishing platform Issuu, the 2017 Penal Code in Japan made some changes to the provisions of the previous 1907 law. Notably, it eliminated the limitation that only women can be recognised as victims of rape, thus broadening the scope of potential victims. Also read | Colombian police officer sparks meme fest after swallowing money he had extorted. Watch viral video here! However, another significant change in the law was the alteration of the name of the crime from "rape" to "crime of forcible sexual intercourse." The report suggests that this change in terminology could weaken the social understanding and perception of the crime. The power of naming is significant, as the term "rape" inherently carries a strong connotation of abuse, indicating a violation beyond mere physical violence. "Rape labels an action that of abuse, rather than merely violence," it says. Which countries have the lowest age of consent? As per Wise Voter, Nigeria tops the list with the age of consent being only 11 years old. However, it must be noted that many regions within Nigeria have their own regional laws that set the age of consent higher. In the Philippines and Angola, the age of consent is one year higher at 12 years old. The Philippines, however, has laws that criminalise specific acts with children under 18 years old, such as child exploitation and child trafficking. Similar to Japan's previous age of consent, Burkina Faso, Niger and the East African island nation of Comoros prescribe that children above 13 years of age can consent to sexual relations. China, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal have 14 years as the age of consent. While certain countries, such as Nigeria and those previously mentioned, have set the age at which individuals can legally consent to sexual activities at very low levels, there are several nations where the age of consent is much higher. These include Bahrain (21 years) and South Korea (20 years). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Japan's historic move redefines rape and raises age of consent

The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday (March 14) approved a bill which would&nbsp; raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 and recognise sexual violation even in the absence of physical violence or coercion. The country is moving to reform its Penal Code after years of criticism that several sex offenders went scot-free. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago.

The package of reforms proposed last month by a Japanese justice ministry panel also sought to clarify rape prosecution requirements. It would now define sexual offence charges as per the circumstances which make it difficult for a person to “form, express or fulfill the intention to resist” a sexual act and listed eight acts in this context.&nbsp;

The examples ranged from threats and abusing one’s economic or social power to taking advantage of a person’s impairment due to the influence of alcohol or drugs.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/explained-japan-poised-to-raise-age-of-consent-to-16-after-over-a-century-why-now-564542">Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?</a>

According to local media reports, the reforms also rename a sexual offence charge in order to clarify the illegality of non-consensual intercourse. It will also make so-called upskirting and producing images of genitalia without consent punishable under the Penal Code.&nbsp;

The amendments will also make illegal the production of images of genitalia, buttocks and breasts without consent. Providing or circulating such images and videos will become punishable. The government aims to pass the bill during the current parliamentary session while the revision will come into effect 20 days after the promulgation, as per local media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-to-raise-age-of-consent-from-13-to-16-age-remains-same-since-enacted-in-1907-564286">Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16; age remains same since enacted in 1907</a>

As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent among developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent. This means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape.

The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences.

As per the current Japanese laws, forced sexual intercourse must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday (March 14) approved a bill which would raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 and recognise sexual violation even in the absence of physical violence or coercion.

The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday (March 14) approved a bill which would raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 and recognise sexual violation even in the absence of physical violence or coercion. The country is moving to reform its Penal Code after years of criticism that several sex offenders went scot-free. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. The package of reforms proposed last month by a Japanese justice ministry panel also sought to clarify rape prosecution requirements. It would now define sexual offence charges as per the circumstances which make it difficult for a person to “form, express or fulfill the intention to resist” a sexual act and listed eight acts in this context. The examples ranged from threats and abusing one’s economic or social power to taking advantage of a person’s impairment due to the influence of alcohol or drugs. ALSO READ | Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now? According to local media reports, the reforms also rename a sexual offence charge in order to clarify the illegality of non-consensual intercourse. It will also make so-called upskirting and producing images of genitalia without consent punishable under the Penal Code. The amendments will also make illegal the production of images of genitalia, buttocks and breasts without consent. Providing or circulating such images and videos will become punishable. The government aims to pass the bill during the current parliamentary session while the revision will come into effect 20 days after the promulgation, as per local media reports. ALSO WATCH | Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16; age remains same since enacted in 1907 As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent among developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent. This means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. As per the current Japanese laws, forced sexual intercourse must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan OKs bill to raise age of consent from 13 to 16, reform sexual offence charges

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7)&nbsp;and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape.

What is the age of consent?

The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse&nbsp;on their rights and development, as per the United Nations.&nbsp;

If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent.&nbsp;

What are the current laws?

As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as&nbsp;13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also&nbsp;means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws.

In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP.&nbsp;

The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that&nbsp;the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”.&nbsp;

Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction.

In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator&nbsp;used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”.&nbsp;

However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP.&nbsp;

What is the proposed reform?

Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13.&nbsp;

However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase&nbsp;from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as&nbsp;intercourse and&nbsp;providing such images to other people, a punishable offence.&nbsp;

What prompted this change?

The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current&nbsp;laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests.&nbsp;

At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who&nbsp;was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.&nbsp;

Previous amendments&nbsp;

The recent proposal comes months after a&nbsp;draft was&nbsp;released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make&nbsp;sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse.&nbsp;

In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. &nbsp;

What’s the age of consent across different countries?

Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights.

Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16.&nbsp;In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but&nbsp;was raised by the&nbsp;Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act&nbsp;to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago.

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape. What is the age of consent? The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse on their rights and development, as per the United Nations. If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent. What are the current laws? As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws. In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP. The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”. Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction. In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”. However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP. What is the proposed reform? Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13. However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP. Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as intercourse and providing such images to other people, a punishable offence. What prompted this change? The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests. At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed. Previous amendments The recent proposal comes months after a draft was released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse. In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. What’s the age of consent across different countries? Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others. Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights. Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16. In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but was raised by the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?

As part of major overhaul of sex crime legislation, a panel of Japan's Justice Ministry proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16. Currently, the Asian country has the lowest age of consent among the developed countries as also among the G7 group.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;move aims to criminalise the grooming of minors and will also expand the definition of rape.

The move&nbsp;comes after a series of rape acquittals in 2019 that sparked an outcry.&nbsp;

The ministry will also increase the statute of limitation for reporting rape from 10 to 15 years, BBC reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-child-sex-abuse-lawsuits-could-trigger-bankruptcy-for-us-church-560940">Also read |&nbsp;Staggering legal costs of over 400 child sex abuse lawsuits threaten bankruptcy for US church</a>

The current law states that victims of rape need to prove that "violence and intimidation" were used during the rape and that it was impossible to resist, to secure a conviction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The panel has not changed this wording but has added other factors including intoxication, drugging, being caught off guard and psychological control into the definition.&nbsp;

The ministry's official Yusuke Asanuma said that the move isn't made to make it easier or more challenging for the rape victims but that it should make verdicts 'more consistent.'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-prevent-rape-and-abuse-philippines-raises-age-of-sexual-consent-to-16-459948">Also read |&nbsp;To prevent rape and abuse, Philippines raises age of sexual consent to 16</a>

&nbsp;

In countries like Germany and Italy, the age of consent is 14, in Greece and France it is 15 and in the UK and many states of the US, it is 16.&nbsp;

In 2019, a case in Japan saw a man go free after being accused of having intercourse&nbsp;with his teenage daughter, even though the court agreed that it was done against the wish of his daughter. He was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.&nbsp;

The government could pass this law as early as summer. Despite the&nbsp;potential to change the age of consent, the country will have an exception for intercourse between people who are at least 13 and who have an age gap of less than five years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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As part of major overhaul of sex crime legislation, a panel of Japan's Justice Ministry proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16. Currently, the Asian country has the lowest age of consent among the developed countries as also among the G7 group.

As part of major overhaul of sex crime legislation, a panel of Japan's Justice Ministry proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16. Currently, the Asian country has the lowest age of consent among the developed countries as also among the G7 group. The move aims to criminalise the grooming of minors and will also expand the definition of rape. The move comes after a series of rape acquittals in 2019 that sparked an outcry. The ministry will also increase the statute of limitation for reporting rape from 10 to 15 years, BBC reported. Also read | Staggering legal costs of over 400 child sex abuse lawsuits threaten bankruptcy for US church The current law states that victims of rape need to prove that "violence and intimidation" were used during the rape and that it was impossible to resist, to secure a conviction. The panel has not changed this wording but has added other factors including intoxication, drugging, being caught off guard and psychological control into the definition. The ministry's official Yusuke Asanuma said that the move isn't made to make it easier or more challenging for the rape victims but that it should make verdicts 'more consistent.' Also read | To prevent rape and abuse, Philippines raises age of sexual consent to 16 In countries like Germany and Italy, the age of consent is 14, in Greece and France it is 15 and in the UK and many states of the US, it is 16. In 2019, a case in Japan saw a man go free after being accused of having intercourse with his teenage daughter, even though the court agreed that it was done against the wish of his daughter. He was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed. The government could pass this law as early as summer. Despite the potential to change the age of consent, the country will have an exception for intercourse between people who are at least 13 and who have an age gap of less than five years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16 after furore over sex crime acquittals

In a landmark verdict, India&#39;s top court has declared that sex&nbsp;with wife between 15 and 18 years of age will be considered rape and be a punishable offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 
 
The Supreme Court of India overturned an exception clause in the rape law that permits sexual intercourse between a man and his wife who is underage&nbsp;but above 15 years of age and said the law was &quot;discriminatory,&nbsp;capricious and arbitrary.&quot;

The bench clarified that it has not dealt with the issue of marital rape as it was not raised before it by the parties.

Expressing concern over the practice of child marriage in the country, a&nbsp;bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said&nbsp;social justice laws in the country had not been implemented with the spirit they have been enacted.&nbsp;

Justice Gupta, who wrote a separate but concurrent verdict, said the age of marriage was 18 in all laws and the exception clause was &quot;capricious, arbitrary and violates the rights of a girl child&quot;. 
 
The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to the philosophy of other statutes, and violates bodily integrity of girl child, the Supreme Court said.

The apex court said the exception is violative of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution.

It asked the Centre and the states to take proactive steps to prohibit child marriage across the country.

It voiced concern over thousands of minor girls being married in mass wedding ceremonies on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

The top court gave its verdict on a petition by an NGO,&nbsp;Independent Thought,&nbsp;challenging the validity of an exception clause (2) in Section 375 of the IPC that states that intercourse or sexual act by a man with his wife, not below 15 years, is not rape.

The petition contended that this created a dichotomy as the age of consent was 18 years and it also defeated the purpose of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.&nbsp;

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) considers sex with children (those below 18 years of age) as rape.

The&nbsp;bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur had on September 6 had reserved its order in the case.

The top court gave its verdict on a petition challenging the validity of an exception clause in the rape law which permits sexual intercourse between a man and his wife who is not below 15 years.

In a landmark verdict, India's top court has declared that sex with wife between 15 and 18 years of age will be considered rape and be a punishable offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court of India overturned an exception clause in the rape law that permits sexual intercourse between a man and his wife who is underage but above 15 years of age and said the law was "discriminatory, capricious and arbitrary." The bench clarified that it has not dealt with the issue of marital rape as it was not raised before it by the parties. Expressing concern over the practice of child marriage in the country, a bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said social justice laws in the country had not been implemented with the spirit they have been enacted. Justice Gupta, who wrote a separate but concurrent verdict, said the age of marriage was 18 in all laws and the exception clause was "capricious, arbitrary and violates the rights of a girl child". The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to the philosophy of other statutes, and violates bodily integrity of girl child, the Supreme Court said. The apex court said the exception is violative of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution. It asked the Centre and the states to take proactive steps to prohibit child marriage across the country. It voiced concern over thousands of minor girls being married in mass wedding ceremonies on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The top court gave its verdict on a petition by an NGO, Independent Thought, challenging the validity of an exception clause (2) in Section 375 of the IPC that states that intercourse or sexual act by a man with his wife, not below 15 years, is not rape. The petition contended that this created a dichotomy as the age of consent was 18 years and it also defeated the purpose of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) considers sex with children (those below 18 years of age) as rape. The bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur had on September 6 had reserved its order in the case.

Sex with wife under 18 is rape: Supreme Court

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