Rape laws should cover male victims - expert

Wang Xiaoying / China Daily

A draft amendment to the criminal law to revise the definition of sexual assault from "indecent acts toward women and children" to "indecent acts toward others" has gained widespread attention, as many see it as an extension of justice to protect males, who could also be victims of "indecent acts", jcrb.com reported on Monday.

Jia Jian, a legal expert with Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said similar amendments should be made to "rape victims", which should not just refer to women. Jia suggested that the gender-neutral term "others" replace "women" and "children" replace "girls" in the definition of rape victims.

It is a societal expectation that victims of rape are women. However, men can also be rape victims.

It has become increasingly common to recognize that in China, men can also be victims of sexual assault, and there have been many reports of male-on-male sexual assault and rape in recent years. However, these victims cannot turn to the criminal law for help because their cases don't fit the legal definition of rape.

Furthermore, teenage boys between the ages of 14 and 18 have been involved in sexual assault and rape cases by their teachers, and there is no law to protect such boys or to bring the perpetrators to justice.