Berlin –
A former member of the Japanese talent agency formerly known as Johnny & Associates, which is embroiled in a sexual assault scandal, called for action to protect victims from defamation and harassment during a United Nations panel meeting on Wednesday.
“Victims who report their abuses are subject to constant vilification and intimidation,” ex-member Akimasa Nihongi said in a video message shown during the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) meeting in Geneva. “Measures must be taken to put an end to the defamation and harassment of victims.”
Nihongi spoke about his experiences as a victim of sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa, the late founder of the agency, which has now been renamed Smile-Up.
