「エホバ」性被害、１５９人申告　体験告白の強要など―元信者調査

　宗教団体「エホバの証人」の元２世信者でつくる任意団体「ＪＷ児童虐待被害アーカイブ」は２８日、教団内での性被害に関する調査結果を公表した。信者からの性暴力のほか、性的な表現を含む出版物を見せられたり、体験の告白を強要されたりする被害の申告が１５９人から寄せられたとした。
　調査は７月、元信者らを対象にインターネットを通じて実施された。信者から性暴力があったか▽年齢に見合わない性的な表現を含んだ出版物を見せられたか▽幹部らから自身の性に関する経験などを話すように強制されたか―の３項目を尋ね、１５９人から被害があったとの回答を得た。
　性暴力を受けたとしたのは３７人で、うち３５人は未成年で被害に遭ったとした。内訳は「服の上や直接身体を触られた」（２４件）、「性的な言葉を掛けられた」（１４件）、「下着姿や裸を見られた・撮影された」（１１件）などがあった。（2023/11/28-17:40）

A survey showed Tuesday that 159 people have experienced sexual abuse in the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization in Japan.
   The survey was conducted online in July by a group of children of Jehovah's Witnesses followers.
   The 159 respondents said that they had been sexually assaulted by followers, shown publications containing sexual expressions that were inappropriate for their age, or forced to confess their sexual experiences.
   On Tuesday, the group submitted a written request to the Children and Families Agency for a system to financially compensate victims of sexual abuse, with the Jehovah's Witnesses bearing the costs.
   In the survey, 37 people said they were sexually assaulted, including 35 who were minors when they became victims. Of them, 24 said they were touched directly or over their clothes, 14 said they were spoken to in a sexual way, and 11 said they were seen or photographed naked or in underwear.