More robust action against sexual violence and abuse is required in Japan, which lags behind many countries in terms of gender equality, ranking 125th in the World Economic Forum¡¯s latest Global Gender Gap Index.
High rates of sexual violence persist in Japan, with 1 in 14 women having experienced forced intercourse, according to a 2020 Cabinet survey ¡ª a scourge symptomatic of patriarchal attitudes, values and practices that put many at risk of abuse.
At the same time, underreporting remains a problem, as revealed by a landmark online survey conducted by NHK in 2022, whose questionnaire I helped draft.
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