【The Spring Charity Concert】
〜Japanese criminal law: Sex without consent isn’t rape? 〜
Members of Spring (the first incorporated sexual assault survivors' organisation in Japan) - together with a group of lawyers, clinical psychologists, and journalists - are visiting the UK to learn about how things can be improved in Japan in terms of legal reform, support systems, and social change. We've decided to hold the charity evening event to raise funds for Spring to continue their work. Please come and join us:
【Access】
London Underground: Aldgate East Station, Tower Hill Station
Rail: London Liverpool Street Station
【Programme】
19:00〜 Entry
20:00〜20:15 Introduction from members of Spring
20:15〜20:45 Chelsea Ballet Company
Takeshi Matsumoto - Contemporary Dance
20:45〜21:00 Break
21:00 ～ 22:15 MC Issunboshi (Rap),
Aya Tokita (Vocal) ＆ Mao(Bass), Masako(Vocal) & Mao(Bass),
Megumi Mesaku (Saxphone)
22:20〜 Raffle Ticket winners announcement
22:25 (Last) Megumi&Masako Three Little Birds
【Raffle tickets prizes】
-Rice and other Japanese foods from YUTAKA
-Japanese Restaurant Voucher from Sushi Makoto in Chiswick
-John Lewis Voucher
-Marconics Energy Healing session (1hour, on site in London it remote session ) worth £120
-QHHT Session (from Chiho)
-CD from MC Issunboshi
-Guide Book from Asoburu to London
- Card from Aya Tokita
- Card from Yuko
- Movie ticket (documentary) from Yorozuya
and so on...
【Fee】
£10 entry (advance)
£12 entry (at the door)
*Drinks are not included in the ticket price.
*All the proceeds will be donated to Spring.
【Background】
In June last year (2017), the criminal law regarding sex crimes in Japan was reformed significantly for the first time in 110 years. While this is a big step forward, many problems
remain. For example, the reform did not abolish the clause that requires use of force or intimidation by the perpetrator - and the need for the victim to present evidence that they resisted fiercely - to establish a rape case. The concept of ‘consent’ remains absent from the law. Moreover, the statue of limitation prevents those who were sexually abused as children from pressing charges due to the statute of limitation; and it remains difficult to get sexual violence between partners recognised as a crime.
Spring, the first incorporated sexual assault survivors' organisation in Japan, is working hard to resolve these issues. They started Believe Campaign in 2016 with three other organisations - Tomorrow Girls Troop, Shiawase Namida, and Chabujo - to push for the reform, lobbying politicians, organising public events, and starting online campaigns and a petition (which was signed by over 50,000 people before they handed it over to the Minister of Justice).
Their campaign was covered by major Japanese media outlets on several occasions.
