Recently, Japan made a significant change to the age at which consent to sexual intercourse can be considered, raising it from 13 to 16 years. This update reflects an evolution in the country's legislation.
This began with a series of criticisms of the acquittal of people involved in sexual crimes and, according to experts, this change in laws can influence the well-being of boys and girls.
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What is the right age for teenagers to decide about their own bodies?
In most democratic countries, including Brazil, there are laws that establish a minimum age for sexual consent. Therefore, protection of younger individuals from possible abuse and exploitation is considered.
The age of consent marks the age range at which sexual activity is considered legal rape. While in Brazil, in China and in Germany this age is 14, in Great Britain and France it is 16 and 15 respectively.
Japan changes age of consent for sex from 13 to 16
For the Japanese, the age of consent was previously set at 13 years. However, in 2017, the country revised its Criminal Code to deal with sexual crimes and decided to raise the age of consent to 16 years.
This measure reflects a growing awareness of the importance of protecting young people from unwanted situations such as voyeurism, abuse and sexual exploitation. The first situation describes the dissemination of photos without permission and threats.
Other types of harassment are now considered in the penal code
As in Brazil, Japan remains with exceptions in relationships between people over 13 years old. This happens when both have a difference of less than 5 full years.
The Human Rights sector of the UN (United Nations) celebrated the inclusion of other harassments in the penal code. Photographs and duress using money became crimes, for example.
Even so, there is criticism from some sectors and Japanese women, who charge tougher penalties for those convicted of sexual harassment. This complaint is due to the possibility of paying bail equivalent to US$ 3,500.