To protect children from sexual crimes, the Constitutional Democratic Party's working team has proposed raising the age at which it is considered to be able to determine consent to sexual activity under the criminal law from the current age of 13 and over to "after graduating from junior high school." There were pros and cons, and we decided to continue the discussion.
The current criminal law stipulates that the age at which consent to sexual activity can be determined is 13 years or older, but there are calls for an increase due to the constant sexual damage to children.
At a meeting on the 7th, a working team of the Constitutional Democratic Party, which is considering reviewing this provision, suggested raising the age at which consent to sexual activity is considered to be "after graduating from junior high school."
Attendees said, "Protecting children under junior high school from sexual damage should be given top priority." On the other hand, "Serious romantic relationships may be created between adults and junior high school students." There is a risk of punishing even sexual activity in some cases. "
For this reason, the Constitutional Democratic Party has decided to continue discussions at the party's Legal Subcommittee, taking into account the progress of the discussions by the working team.
Member of the House of Representatives Terada "Deleted from the record of the members' remarks"
On the other hand, regarding the discussion by the Constitutional Democratic Party working team, one of the male lawmakers said, "If I have sex with a 14-year-old child, it is strange that I will be caught even if I have consent." The Sankei Shimbun reported.
On the 7th, a member of the House of Representatives Terata, who chairs the work team, told reporters that he said, "I don't remember exactly saying that. However, if I was speaking, I would like to withdraw, not the true intention I wanted to convey. "
After that, Mr. Terada made it clear that he had deleted the relevant remarks from the records of the examination so far.
On the other hand, Mr. Terada said, "I think it is up to the secretary-general Fukuyama to decide who spoke," when asked by reporters for the name of the member who spoke.
Secretary-general Fukuyama "I'm saying that he will withdraw."
Fukuyama, the secretary-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party, told reporters, "It's a matter of discussion, and he said,'I'll withdraw the word by overstatement.' Regarding sexual intercourse, there is a matter of "sexual exploitation", and there is of course an opinion that everything should be cracked down, and I think that I have expressed various opinions from each standpoint. "
On the other hand, Mr. Fukuyama was asked by reporters about the name of the member who spoke, "In that case, I have to make minutes and announce all the discussions. I will ask about the situation inside the party. I think. "