A two-day conference over the weekend in Tokyo, Japan, has set out a new agenda for reforming the country’s legal response to sexual assault victims.

The conference was organised by lawyer and victim’s advocate Noriko Moriya, in partnership with the Tokiwa International Victimology Institute, based at Tokiwa University.

Academics, lawyers and members of the Japanese police listened to testimonies from rape victims, one of whom described the appalling treatment she received at a police station after reporting the crime.

The audience also heard panelists from other countries, who described sexual assault support services that could be introduced in Japan.

The Japanese police have a poor reputation for supporting rape victims.

In a 2006 survey conducted by Japan’s Gender Equality Bureau, 7% of 1,578 female respondents said that they had been raped at least once. Only 5% of those went to the police.

Many of those who declined to report the crime said that they felt too ‘embarrassed’ to do so. The vast levels of under-reporting have led to a low rate of prosecution for rape.

The conference produced an 11-point plan for reforming Japan’s response to victims of sexual assault. These include preventing police from asking a victim about her sexual history, and allowing victims much greater control over the prosecution process.

The agenda is soon to be submitted to the Japanese parliament and publicised in a programme on NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).

Moriya said that her main aim was to encourage victims to come forward with their stories.

“My first purpose is for victims to start speaking out, so we can create a good movement. Their voices need to be heard and this symposium is a way forward.”