Japan Press Weekly

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2020 September 30 - October 6 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

LDP Sugita refuses to retract her remark insulting sexual assault victims

Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives Sugita Mio on October 1 on her blog made excuses for her “women can easily lie about sexual violence” remark but refused to retract the remark.

Sugita in the latest blog post maintained that she had no intent to look down on women. She continued to write, “I’ll offer an apology, if there is someone who felt upset about my remark on the grounds that it sounds as if only women tell lies about sexual assault.”

The remark in question was reportedly made on September 25 in a briefing session of the ruling LDP regarding the government’s program to support sex crime survivors. Sugita on the following day on her blog denied the allegation.

In protest against Sugita’s remark, the anti-sexual violence group “Flower Demonstration” launched an online signature-collection campaign demanding the retraction of the remark along with Sugita’s apology and resignation. So far, nearly 120,000 people have signed the petition.

Regarding Sugita’s explanation in her blog, “Flower Demonstration” activists pointed out that she has no understanding of the reality of sexual violence as well as of problems victims and supporters are facing. They criticized the LDP lawmaker for just making an empty apology.

In response to public criticism, however, the LDP has only issued an oral reprimand to Sugita.

Past related articles:
> JCP Koike: LDP Sugita is not qualified to serve as a Dietmember [September 29, 2020]
> Tamura denounces LDP lawmaker’s slander of sexual assault survivors [September 26 & 27, 2020]