[Leaders Shaping the Future of the Indo-Pacific] The #MeToo Movement in Asia: How Can We Fight Against Sexual Violence?

Ms. Shiori Ito (Journalist; Documentary Filmmaker; 2020 Time 100 List; Asia 21 Young Leader)

Tom Nagorski, EVP of Asia Society opened the program and described why Asia Society decided to recognize Ms. Shiori Ito as an Asia 21 Leader. Ms. Ito’s courage to speak out at huge personal costs on behalf of all victims of sexual violence has been an inspiration for all. 

The fireside chat with Ms. Ito started with the topic of the sexist remarks made by former Prime Minister Mori, President of the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee, who announced his resignation from his position as President of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organizing Committee. We began with his sexist remarks that “board meetings attended by many women drag on because they talk too much” and the events that led to it offered a snapshot of where we are today in the context of the theme, Ms. Ito addressed how we can jointly fight sexual assault and what challenges lie ahead, and probed into social norms and practices around the issue.

Asked what compelled her to be vocal and to join others who expressed their anger and resentment, Ms. Ito highlighted that the resentment was aroused not only from Mr. Mori’s comment but from the fact it represented the reality that nothing had changed over the years. Mr. Mori’s press conference only communicated the message that he did not understand what he had done wrong and that the issue had not been discussed among his team. His stepping down would not solve core issues of diversity, inclusion and gender equality. There is much work to be done.

In her initial comments, Ms. Ito mentioned that she had been empowered by the term “silence breaker.” She recalls feeling isolated after coming out with her personal experience of rape in 2017, when the Japanese public basically stigmatized her. She noted that while the Japanese sexual offense law has been amended, the change sought by MeToo activists to make it clear in law that sex without consent is rape was yet to be achieved. A committee was launched with the mandate of revising and updating the law, but it seems unlikely that the Committee will advise the inclusion of sex without consent in March, when the Committee is due to be dissolved. It has been shocking for Ms. Ito that after three years of discussion in the Committee, listening to the voices from the MeToo movement and other survivors, their ultimate demands would not be incorporated into law. She feels that since law governs our daily lives, she would be at a loss about what she sacrificed herself for if consent is not written into law.

The #DontBeSilent movement implies a shared understanding that by being silent, one is equally guilty. Anyone can become a victim or bystander. One may not be a witness of sexual assault every day but may be present at a meeting where sexist comments are made, when sexual harassment takes place in the office, or bullying in the classroom. We are tested in our daily lives. While an incident may not be critical, we are often faced with the challenge of deciding between speaking out or remaining silent. This was exactly what happened when members at the meeting laughed along with others at Mr. Mori’s comment. No one spoke out that his comment was inappropriate.

Asked whether the movement was predominantly supported by younger generations, Ms. Ito said that at first, she actually felt that there were few young people involved, but the hashtag campaign brought in the younger generation on board. Knowing how to effectively use social media, young people are powerful. They may be key to finding ways other than online petitions to effectively reach people during the pandemic.

In terms of what kind of support is lacking in Japan, Ms. Ito pointed out that only a small percentage of victims report rape to the police in Japan and that this owes to the absence of a victim support system. In other countries and regions like Sweden, UK and Taiwan, rape crisis centers provide victims with help in reporting to the authorities, mental and physical support, and medical checkups. Japan lacks the necessary social support and education. Ms. Ito also articulated that there is a fundamental problem with Japan’s teaching guidelines for public education, which allow teachers to teach only developments after fertilization. This means that teachers are at a risk of losing their jobs should they talk about sex, more less about consent. Under these circumstances, public schools can only overcome these barriers by inviting guest lecturers, but sex education can actually start from the home or local communities. We unfortunately cannot expect any progress on this issue if our law does not embody the concept of consent and people are not educated.

How do we break the social norm that intimidate women from becoming vocal? Ms. Ito decided to be her natural self when talking about her experience, in order to dismiss the stereotype image of a crying or solemn victim and to show that she was the same as everyone else, thus encouraging more people to speak out. She was moved to see the flower demo, when people peacefully gathered with flowers in their hands to share their experience and ask for changes to the sex offense law. She believes that if more people talked about their experiences it would encourage more people to come out.   

Asked if she had any plans to collaborate with other similar movements in Asia, Ms. Ito said that visiting neighboring countries with similar social norms and law barriers has been inspiring. Her trips gave her the opportunity to learn that other countries with close backgrounds were engaging in different and more aggressive forms of social movement.

As a film director and journalist, Ms. Ito hopes to continue to shed light on gender-based human rights issues. She feels that often in the newsroom, information is consumed without a face or name, but that documentary films have the power to show the social issues behind the personal experiences of the individual portrayed.

Pandemics increase violence against women and children. In Sierra Leone, the Ebola pandemic kept children at home and increased violence and when Ms. Ito went to interview people on the topic, she learned that 90% of local women and girls experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). She met two girls who wished to change the situation through the radio. The documentary film portrayed the girls’ daily lives rather than spotlight the issue itself. Ms. Ito explained that through her experiences of being of sitting in front of the camera, she learned how this can be violent. In her film she shows that the girls are not only victims but are just like any other girl with a name, siblings, parents, loving people around them – a life. She hopes that her documentaries will help people relate to the girls portrayed and become more familiar with the issues addressed through them.

Ms. Ito also discussed how women have assumed a proactive role in executing these social norms. Even with the knowledge of the risks entailed, they have been exposed to the social pressures of fitting into the mode and not losing out in life.

Audiences were invited to join the conversation. Topics covered included engaging with other survivors and activists in other Asian countries, countering the prevailing victim-blaming in Asia, how after 31 years after “sekuhara” or sexual harassment became the buzz word, Japan has not succeeded in providing victims with legal support, how men can participate in the MeToo movement, how her book has been socially received, and the effectiveness of a quota system for positions for women.