Statement by H.E. Ms. MARUKAWA Tamayo, Minister in Charge of Womenʼs Empowerment, Minister of State for Gender Equality, delivered at the Ministerial round tables, the 65th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65)

“It is extremely important to increase the proportion of women in leadership positions in all fields such as politics and economy, in order to enhance diversity and revitalize society for the steady development of the Japanese economy and to provide both women and men with truly equal opportunities.

The Government of Japan emphasizes this in the new Basic Plan for Gender Equality formulated at the end of last year, the year of “Beijing plus 25”.

Gender equality in the political domain is particularly essential in order to incorporate public opinion into political decisions. Both women and men need to proactively participate in, and take their respective responsibility for the political decision-making process. The opinions of a wider range of people should be fairly and appropriately incorporated into the political and social policies, so that all people can receive equal benefits. Digitalization contributes to gender equality in politics.

In 2018, the Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field was enacted. This Act provides for the need to make the number of female and male candidates for political leadership positions as even as possible. We have been urging the political parties to increase the proportion of female candidates running in national elections, prevent harassment, foster human resource development and to help female members of the Diet to conduct activities with greater comfort.

Also, we have made requests to local councils to help female members make their political and private lives compatible.

For public administration, we have been fostering measures to employ and promote more women and help female employees improve their work-life balance.

In the judicial sector, we will make requests to relevant authorities to increase the proportion of female judges, including justices of the Supreme Court.

Based on the new Basic Plan, Japan will thus continue to strongly promote women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life

Thank you for your kind attention.

Video of statement: http://wwwc.cao.go.jp/lib_008/int_csw/chii65-g_01.html