Theoretical research on practical problems envisaged after the revision of the sex offences provisions.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 05050:Criminal law-related
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Kamon Yu 立命館大学, 法学部, 教授 (40407169)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 斎藤 司 龍谷大学, 法学部, 教授 (20432784) ; 山下 裕樹 國學院大學, 法学部, 准教授 (20817150) ; 玄 守道 龍谷大学, 法学部, 教授 (60460721)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 性犯罪 / 性的同意 / 同意しない意思の形成等の困難な状態

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on the clarification of the meaning of ‘difficult state of non-consensual intention formation etc.’, which was stipulated in the 2023 Sexual Offences Amendment in place of the requirements of assault threat and non-refusal, as it is expected to be the most important issue in the future practical operation of the law. The new Article 176 lists eight grounds as grounds for causing sexual misconduct, but the scope of punishment is not always clear, especially when non-consensual sexual intercourse or obscenity is committed by taking advantage of status or relationship, or by deceiving the other party. Therefore, based on discussions in Germany and the UK, as well as an analysis of Japanese case law to date, we have provided a theoretical perspective by examining how the article should be interpreted and the specific scope of punishment.

Free Research Field

刑法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

2023年の性犯罪規定改正において、不同意性交等・わいせつ罪が成立し、具体的な8つの原因事由が提示され、国民にとって性犯罪の成立範囲がより具体的にわかりやすくなったものと思われる。しかし、8つの原因事由のそれぞれの意義や関係性についてはいまだ不明確な点が多く、実務上の今後の運用に当たって混乱が予想される。特に前述のような地位や関係性を利用した場合や相手をだました場合は裁判例の蓄積が多いわけではなく、本研究における分析や比較法研究が活かされることが期待されることから、学術的ないしは社会的意義は高いものと考える。