PRESS CONFERENCE
Sexual Harassment in the Ground Self-Defense Forces
Rina Gonoi, Former member of the Ground Self-Defense Force
14:00-15:00 Monday, December 19, 2022
(The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)
In September, an internal investigation by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force found that Rina Gonoi endured physical and verbal sexual harassment on a daily basis from autumn 2020 to August 2021. She had been stationed at Camp Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture, but quit the GSDF in June 2022.
Gonoi published allegations of abuse online under her own name, and submitted a petition to the Defense Ministry in August calling for an investigation. The petition garnered more than 100,000 signatures and the Defense Minister ordered an investigation. The initial probe did not result in criminal charges. But her case was reopened after the Committee for the Inquest of the Prosecution, an independent citizens’ panel tasked with reviewing prosecutors’ decisions, ruled it was unjust not to prosecute.
As Japan prepares to increase its defense budget, which will include new recruiting efforts at a time when the number of young Japanese able to serve in the military is decreasing, dealing with sexual harassment in the armed forces is likely to loom larger in policy making. Please join us as we hear from Ms. Gonoi about her experiences in the GSDF, and how they are responding to her case.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/Witz8rhLjuw1joAE6
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.
Professional Activities Committee