Sexual victims - supporting women's sexual and reproductive choices and wellbeing

Abstract

In Japan, support systems for female victims of sexual violence are lacking. Assistant Professor Risa Koyake, Faculty of Contemporary Social Studies, Department of Contemporary Children, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Japan, is working to ensure these women have the support they need and deserve. Her work is particularly focused on women in Japan and the US who are pregnant as a result of sexual violence. Abortion tends to be the assumed preference but the choice of whether or not to have an abortion is tied to the sexual and reproductive freedom of the victim and some of these women wish to give birth. Unfortunately, support is particularly lacking for female survivors of sexual violence who wish to give birth. In her work, Koyake conducts consultations and conversations with survivors of rape. She has experience as a volunteer at a group for survivors of domestic violence so is used to having sensitive and challenging discussions with women seeking expert support and guidance. Koyake's current project is entitled 'The Choice of Adoption or Abortion Among Women Pregnant as a Result of Sexual Violence in Japan and America', and involves looking at existing support and options for women in Japan who are pregnant as a result of sexual violence, ultimately seeking to build on exisiting support to ensure that it is adequate, particularly for rape victims who choose to give birth.