A bill to amend the Penal Code that changes the name of the crime to "non-consensual sexual intercourse" and specifically states the cases in which it is difficult for the victim to express "intention not to consent" as a constituent requirement was unanimously approved at a plenary session of the House of Representatives and sent to the House of Councillors.
In the draft amendment to the Penal Code and other laws, the crime name was changed to "non-consensual sexual intercourse" and eight acts were specifically listed in the article as constituent requirements, including "consumption of alcohol or drugs," "refusal to express willingness to disagree," and "fear or surprise" as constituent requirements. In addition, the statute of limitations will be extended by five years from now.
In addition, the age at which consent to sexual activity can be determined will be changed from the current "8 years old or older" to "5 years old or older", and sexual intercourse with people under the age of 13 will be punished, except between people of the same age.
In addition, it establishes a new crime to tame and psychologically control children for sexual purposes.
In addition, in order to prevent so-called voyeurism, a new law will be established to punish the act of taking obscene images or providing them to third parties as "shooting crimes".
These bills were voted on at a plenary session of the House of Representatives on the 16th, passed unanimously, and sent to the House of Councillors.
Organizations made up of victims, etc. "I sincerely hope that it will be passed in the current Diet"
The unanimous approval of a bill to amend the Penal Code on Sexual Crimes and other matters at the plenary session of the House of Representatives expresses joy and strongly hopes that it will be passed in the current Diet session.
On this day, sexual victims and supporters, who have been calling for the revision of the law, also visited the Diet to watch the vote.
In response to the passing, Miyuki Kaneko of Spring, a support group for victims of sexual crimes, said, "When the voice of 'no objection' rang out, I was deeply moved and happy to think that we were only halfway to the passage."
The group issued a statement saying, "We very much welcome the 'crime of non-consensual sexual intercourse,' which is a pillar of this bill, in response to the voices of the parties and others who want to make clear provisions that allow perpetrators to be brought to justice appropriately in accordance with the essence of punishing non-consensual sexual acts.