Statement by Ms. OSAKI Asako, Representative of Japan, at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) General Discussion

Honorable Chair,

On behalf of the Government of Japan, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chair, the Bureau members, and the entire team for their dedicated efforts in organizing this meeting.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
Last year, for the first time in the 140-year history of Japan's cabinet system, a woman was appointed as prime minister.
 
Japan is actively promoting gender equality and aims to create a society where diversity is respected, all individuals can fully express their individuality and abilities, and everyone can feel a sense of purpose in life.
 
Regarding this year’s priority theme "Access to Justice", Japan has been promoting initiatives to improve progress in this area, such as revising the Penal Code to enable victims of sexual violence to seek justice more effectively, and providing legal support services to enhance access to justice for all, including women and girls.
 
In addition, to address structural issues that pose barriers to justice, Japan is actively engaged in awareness-raising activities aimed at reducing the impact of unconscious bias and fixed stereotypes on gender roles.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
Japan emphasizes a human security-based approach in international cooperation, which aims to ensure respect for human dignity through the protection and empowerment of individuals, especially those in vulnerable situations.
 
Under this approach, Japan is supporting the strengthening of legal access for women and girls in vulnerable situations, such as those affected by conflict, through initiatives by JICA and partnering with UN Women and the Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
 
Furthermore, in 2025, which marked the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on WPS, Japan assumed the role of co-chair of the WPS Focal Points Network with Norway and led international discussions on WPS. Japan will continue to strongly promote WPS as one of the main pillars of its foreign policy.
 
Access to justice is a critically important and indispensable element for eradicating violence and injustice disproportionately suffered by women and girls.
 
Japan will continue to contribute to the realization of a just, equal, and rights-guaranteed society for all women and girls, in cooperation with the international community.
 
I thank you.
 
In response to the statement made by the Chinese delegation at the General Discussion, Mr. Kazutaka Kawahara, Minister, delivered the following statement on March 10th.
 
Earlier, inappropriate remarks were made by the Chinese representative concerning Japan’s historical issues. While I will not address each one in detail here, I trust that many countries present recognize that since the end of World War II, Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace loving nation and made innumerable contributions to the peace and prosperity of the world as well as to the promotion of universal values, such as human rights, through various initiatives, including development assistance and peacekeeping operations. Japan will continue such contributions as a responsible member of the international community. Therefore, it is completely groundless to argue that Japan is trying to deny or distort history.
 
2^nd Intervention
 
What was said by the Chinese delegation against Japan is unacceptable. Today’s meeting is a venue for constructive discussion. It is completely groundless to argue that Japan is trying to deny or distort history.