Japan's age of consent was raised from 13, among the world's lowest, to 16 years old on Friday as lawmakers passed key reforms to sex crime legislation.
Campaigners welcomed the reforms, with the Tokyo-based group Human Rights Now calling them "a big step forward.'' The age of consent -- below which sexual activity is considered statutory rape -- is 16 in Britain, 15 in France, and 14 in Germany and China.In practice however, across many parts of the country regional ordinances banning "lewd" acts with minors were sometimes seen as effectively raising the age of consent to 18.
Japan last revised its criminal code on sexual offenses in 2017, for the first time in more than a century, but campaigners said the reforms were insufficient.Under the previous law, prosecutors had to prove victims were incapacitated due to violence and intimidation.Criminalizing voyeurismThese include victims being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being frightened and perpetrators taking advantage of social status.
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