Japan Lawmakers Back Amendments to Sex Crime Laws
The archaic laws were enacted in the Meiji Era
The revision of Japan’s sex crime laws have received the unanimous support of both the ruling and the opposition parties with the Lower House committee unanimously passing of a list of provisions including broadening the definition of rape.
According to Japan Times, the proposed revision “has the support of both ruling and opposition camps and is expected to proceed smoothly through a plenary session of the more powerful chamber on Thursday.”
“I believe the public interest in the amendments is high. We don’t have much time left, but I do hope the Upper House will find the time to deliberate them in a thorough manner,” Justice Minister Katsutoshi Kaneda said after the vote.
The changes include broadening the definition of rape to include forced anal and oral sex along with recognition of males as victims.
In Thailand, the Criminal Code defines rape as sexual intercourse with a woman who is not a wife, and against the latter’s will, by threatening her, or doing any act of violence, or by taking advantage of her being in a condition where there is less resistance. The law was later amended to recognize males as victims covering all cross gender incidents and to also recognize marital rape.
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