Why in News?
As part of new legislation, Japan will raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 because the country’s current rules have been criticised for not adequately shielding youngsters from sexual abuse.
The G7 countries’ lowest age of consent is 13, It remained unchanged since 1907, but the new legislation will raise it to the same level as the UK.
Allegations on Japan on Age of Consent
According to the Guardian, Human Rights Now stated that despite the amendments, Japan “still fails to meet international rape legislation standards” and that it should “redefine the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse.”
For instance, a man accused of repeatedly raping his teenage daughter had free in a rape case.
Age of Consent under 16 years around the World
- The lowest age of consent is in Nigeria (11) followed by the Philippines and Angola (12). The age of consent is 13 in four countries – Japan, Niger, Comoros and Burkina Faso.
- The countries where the age of consent is 14 include a number of South American countries: Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
- The European countries where the age of consent is 14 include Germany, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Montenegro.
- The age of consent in Asian countries is also 14 in Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Mauritius, Malawi, and Chad.
- The age of consent is slightly higher at 15 in France, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Czech Republic, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, and Slovenia, as well as in Thailand, North Korea, Cambodia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.
Also read:
- What is the Age of Consent?
- The Age of Consent for the LGBT Community
- What are “Romeo and Juliet laws”
