This Japanese Woman Soldier Who Was Sexually Assaulted In The Army Sued The Government And Won

This Japanese woman soldier who was sexually assaulted in the army sued the government and finally got justice.

26-year-old Rina Gonoi had joined the army after being inspired by troops helping victims of an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. But she said after she joined the military, she faced constant sexual harassment, with male colleagues sexually commenting on her body and breast size and even asking her to give them blow jobs.

Then in August 2021, three male colleagues pinned her to the bed, forcibly spread her legs open and rubbed their crotches against her sexually.

She said the incident happened in front of several other people, but no one intervened and some people even laughed.

Gonoi said she reported the incident to senior officers but they dismissed her over “lack of evidence”, prompting her to leave the military.

In 2022, she took the rare step to go public and share her story on YouTube, drawing attention worldwide and in Japan, where speaking out against gender violence still remains a taboo.

After her video went viral, Japan’s defense ministry issued an apology and said it had dismissed five men in connection to the assault.

Gonoi then sued the three male colleagues for sexually assaulting her and won, with the men being sentenced to two-year suspended prison sentences in December 2023.

Gonoi had also sued the Japanese government and five ex-colleagues, including the three already convicted, seeking compensation for the government’s failure to protect her and causing mental distress.

This pressured Japanese authorities to launch an official investigation into sexual violence in the military, which uncovered about 1,400 cases of sexual harassment and bullying, most of which had not been reported.

On Monday, Jan. 26, Gonoi’s lawyer said Gonoi will receive a settlement from the Japanese government of 1.6 million yen (US$10,400).

In a press conference on Monday, Gonoi said the last 4.5 years she had experienced first-hand “how heavy the weight of speaking up is”, but added she did not regret speaking out.

Read More

France Has Passed A “Only Yes Means Yes” Law That Clearly Defines Rape As Sex Without Consent

The law says that “silence or lack of reaction” is not considered consent and that consent must be “free and informed, specific, prior, revocable” and evaluated according to the circumstances.

AlmostCherry Mohamed

Mexico’s First Woman President Was Groped By A Man In The Street And Pressed Charges Against Him

“I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman, but that we as women experience in our country,”

AlmostCherry Mohamed

The Only Man To Appeal Being Found Guilty Of Raping Gisèle Pelicot Had His Sentence Increased To 10 Years

71-year-old Gisèle was drugged by her husband of 50 years, Dominique, and raped at least 92 times by 72 men he invited over between 2011 and 2020 without her knowledge.

AlmostSofia Hou