Statement by Minister MAGOSAKI Kaoru, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Interactive Dialogue on the emerging issue 'Getting back on track: Achieving gender equality in a context of overlapping emergencies'

Thank you, Mr. Chair.
 
I would like to thank all the panelists for their insightful remarks. Complex and compounded emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and conflict have exacerbated gender inequality and affected progress made in this regard.  I would like to share some of Japan’s efforts aimed at recovery from these challenges, while aiming for the gender equality objectives of the 2030 Agenda.
 
There is actually an aspect that the Covid-19 pandemic catalyed the Government’s use of digital technology to empower women through acquisition of digital skills and flexible employment arrangements.  The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is promoting e-learning courses and online training for public vocational staff to reflect local needs.  This enhances access for women to obtain qualifications while addressing childcare or other necessities, and helps participants find steady employment including through career counselling.  Additionally, the Government provides subsidies for human resource development when employers provide vocational training to their employees or when the employees seek further training on their own initiative.
 
While the pandemic greatly affected those in the service industry, many of whom are women, the increasing relevance of digital space creates opportunities for women’s economic empowerment in emerging fields such as biotechnology and green technology. In April last year, the Government issued the Digital Human Resources Development Plan for Women to support employment in the digital field.  Included in this plan is the Grant for the Promotion of Local Women's Participation and Advancement, to further encourage efforts by local authorities, in cooperation with the private sector, to both improve digital skills and support employment in the digital field.  The promotion of careers in this field is highly significant due to flexible work styles and less restrictions on work locations.
 
The Government of Japan will continue to utilize all available means, including digital transformation, to further gender equality and women’s empowerment amidst overlapping crises and the rapidly changing global context.
 
Thank you.