Speaker: Rachel Serena Levine, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

Abstract: »Contemporary global discourse has brought significant attention to the issue of sexual violence as a violation of human rights. Japan has seen an unprecedented slew of revisions to the penal code addressing sexual violence: the code, originally written in 1907, was first updated in 2017 and then revised again in 2023. In this paper I seek to understand the impetus behind the continuous revisions after 110 years of relative neglect and the focus of the ongoing fight for revisions. Using critical discourse analysis, I look at how activists, judges, and scholars bring forth change by connecting the local issue of sexual violence to global women’s rights norms. Discourse often frames sexual violence as an infringement of personal dignity, sexual freedom, and self-determination, echoing wording used in the Japanese constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This has indeed led to significant changes. However, analysis of human rights discourse necessitates close attention to who is protected and what rights are enforced. I highlight who is still left out of the discourse. Much of the activism discussing further revisions emphasizes protecting the rights of children and strengthening laws against indecent photography and pornography. Many scholars and lawyers also lament the continued lack of legal protections against sexual harassment. Yet, these discussions fail to consider male or non-binary victims of sexual violence. The impact of this exclusion is seen in the lack of cases regarding these victims in the Japanese criminal court.« (Source: Online Program)

Wikipedia: History of Asia: History of Japan / Heisei era | Law: Law of Japan / Penal Code of Japan | Sex and the law: Sexual violence / Sex crimes in Japan