Sexual violence, including sexual harassment, is an act that seriously violates the dignity of the victim, and it creates irreversible psychological trauma and profound effects, both mental and physical, that last the victim's entire life. This is absolutely unacceptable. As educational institutions, universities in particular must be free from sexual violence, including sexual harassment.
In the June 2023 amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, in addition to revisions regarding non-consensual sexual intercourse and non-consensual indecency, the government also created new offenses regarding photographing sexual parts and sex acts without a justifiable reason or consent and sharing such images, etc. In addition, in the March 2023 meeting of related ministries and agencies, the "Policy for Further Strengthening Measures Against Sex Crimes and Sexual Violence" was formulated, and measures against sex crimes and sexual violence are being continually strengthened, with steps including declaring the period from 2023 to 2025 to be a "further intensive strengthening period". Following this, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology issued a notice to universities dated September 29, 2023 titled "Further Promoting Efforts to Prevent Sexual Violence, Including Sexual Harassment (Notice)" and requested that universities take more proactive steps to prevent sexual violence, including sexual harassment, by reviewing campus rules and taking strict action against perpetrators.
In light of the growing social demand for strict measures to punish and prevent sex crimes and sexual violence such as indecent acts and voyeur videos, we at the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS) have renewed our resolve to take proactive steps to prevent sexual violence, including sexual harassment; to demonstrate our stance that we will neither overlook nor tolerate sexual violence, including sexual harassment; and to further advance the following initiatives:
- We will take strict disciplinary action against a faculty or staff member or a student who commits an act of sexual violence, including sexual harassment.
- When hiring faculty and staff members, we will check their history of disciplinary actions resulting from sexual violence, including sexual harassment.
- We will appropriately announce disciplinary actions taken against perpetrators of sexual violence, including sexual harassment, based on THERS and university rules.
- We will proactively work with external organizations such as the police, medical institutions, and support centers.
- We will improve and enhance our consultation system.
If you have encountered sexual harassment, please do not hesitate to seek advice.
Students should contact:
Global Engagement Center Support Team
Staff should contact: