Japan: Former soldier fights for justice in landmark sexual assault case

Tuesday will be the culmination of a former Japanese soldier’s years-long quest for justice against the soldiers she believes violated her sexually. The trial has attracted interest from all around the world.

Rina Gonoi, 24, made public complaints against her former coworkers after quitting the Self-Defence Forces in 2022. This was an unusual move in a society dominated by men where speaking out against sexual violence has remained relatively taboo.

Time Magazine included Gonoi in its list of 100 emerging world leaders, and she has gained international exposure and a public apology from the government, but she has also been the victim of hate speech on the internet.

After enlisting in 2020, Gonoi claims she experienced ongoing harassment. In 2021, she claims three male coworkers held her on the ground, pulled her legs apart, and started rubbing their crotches against her in an attempt to simulate a sex act while others laughed.

When nothing was done, she stated she made the decision to quit, although at the time she had complained to her supervisors. Japan’s military ministry publicly apologised to her and said that five of the personnel involved had been fired and four others had been disciplined after her allegations gained further attention.

Her suspected attackers are contesting the charges in the sexual assault case that is pending in the Fukushima district court.

Gonoi has also filed a legal lawsuit against the government for neglecting to look into her allegations.

Japan is attempting to increase the number of female soldiers and strengthen its armed forces in order to intimidate its nuclear-armed neighbour North Korea and its formidable neighbour China.

(With agency inputs)

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