In order to create a gender-equal society, it is necessary that the national machinery for the advancement of women play a leadership role in close cooperation with other concerned administrative bodies in comprehensively and effectively promoting a broad, diverse range of measures, based on trends in the international community and changes in the Japanese economy and society. In addition, it is important that gender equality be reflected in all policy areas in the future.

In addition to national efforts, it is expected that local governments, women's organizations, private companies, management organizations, labor organizations, the media and other groups, as well as all citizens -- old, young, male and female -- will cooperate as necessary in a systematic way and make independent efforts that reflect their respective positions.

For this reason, the following measures must be formulated in order to comprehensively and effectively promote this plan, along with the strengthening of the necessary structure for implementation.

1. Active implementation of measures and regular follow-up

- Comprehensively implement measures and follow-up regularly

Encourage the close cooperation of concerned administrative organizations to promote comprehensive, consistent measures toward the achievement of the basic goals and priority goals outlined in Part 2.

Regularly follow up on progress in the implementation of this plan and maintain a constant grasp of the current situation and problems related to gender equality in Japan. Convey the situation to the public in a manner that is easy to understand and reflected in policies and measures.

Review the plan whenever deemed appropriate in order to respond to trends in the efforts of the international community or changes in the economic and social situation in Japan.

- Reflect gender equality in all measures

Reflect gender equality in all measures that exert a direct or indirect impact on the formation of a gender-equal society. Ensure that Coordinators for Gender Equality and divisions of each ministry and agency in charge of the promotion of gender equality give due consideration to positively contribute to the planning of such measures.

Give measures related to the creation of a gender-equal society an appropriate place in the various plans formulated by the Government, thus promoting the formation of such a society through the efforts of the entire national administration.

- Enhance training opportunities for administrative staff

Produce and utilize gender equality guidelines and to enhance training opportunities and information provision in order to raise awareness of women's human rights and foster a gender-equality perspective among all national administrative staff.

2. Research and the collection, organization and provision of information

- Research the creation of a gender-equal society

Conduct studies and research on the pioneering efforts of other countries and the possibility of introducing such measures into Japan in terms of comprehensive and basic issues related to the creation of a gender-equal society (including methods to evaluate and analyze the impact on women and men of organizations and functions of national machineries in other countries, legal systems related to gender equality, and various measures and plans). Study and research problems accompanying changes in the economic and social environment as well as new problems proposed by the international community.

Regularly grasp conditions and awareness of gender equality, by utilizing statistical and general awareness studies.

Make efforts to make the results of these studies and research mutually available to national and local governments, NGOs, and others through various information networks.

- Provide information on trends in the efforts of the international community and other countries

Collect and organize information on trends in the efforts of the international community and other countries at meetings of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, as well as the next World Conference on Women and its preparatory meetings. Provide this information to local governments, NGOs and others through various meetings, publications and the Internet.

- Make Japan's efforts known overseas

Communicate overseas the efforts of Japan for the creation of a gender-equal society and the results of those actions by transmitting via the Internet and other new media. Enhance cooperation with international organizations and the national machineries of other countries.

3. Developing and strengthening the structure for comprehensive implementation

(1) Strengthening the organization and functions of the national machinery

- Establish a new advisory council to promote the formulation of a gender-equal society

Continue study on the establishment of a new advisory council to promote the creation of a gender-equal society as proposed in the "Vision of Gender Equality" "...a legally based advisory body should be installed that can provide advice and suggestions on government policies for gender equality as requested by the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers. This body should also understand how the policy measures are being executed, and express opinions to the Prime Minister and Ministers from a basic and comprehensive viewpoint."

- Consider a fundamental law to promote the creation of a gender-equal society

Study a fundamental law to promote the creation of a gender-equal society.

Study and research the possibility of introducing ombudsperson(s)* into Japan who resolve problems concerning gender equality, making reference to related activities and legal systems in other countries.

*Note: Ombudsperson: the gender-free form of "ombudsman," which is used also in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women.

- Enhance the support system for the Minister for Women's Affairs

Further enhance the support system to enable the Minister for Women's Affairs to effectively coordinate a diverse range of relevant policies.

- Flexibly hold Meetings of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality and of the Coordinators for Gender Equality

Flexibly hold meetings of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality and of the Coordinators for Gender Equality to promote the gender equality measures of concerned ministries and agencies in a unified manner. Ensure that the officials in charge of gender equality in each ministry and agency, who coordinate policy under their respective jurisdictions, make efforts to take advantage of all opportunities to mutually exchange information and further stimulate those activities.

- Enhance the divisions of ministries and agencies in charge at the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality

Further enhance the divisions of ministries and agencies in charge at the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality to strengthen the structure supporting the activities of the national machinery, and ensure close mutual cooperation with these administrative organizations by holding regular liaison meetings of concerned ministries and agencies.

- Actively utilize women in administration consultative committees and as Civil Liberties Commissioners

Actively assign women to positions on administration consultative committees and as Civil Liberties Commissioners and provide more research opportunities and information to increase awareness of gender equality. Study the appointment of regional officers who give priority to gender equality problems and are especially knowledgeable on women's issues. Study the introduction of a mechanism to reflect the lessons learned by these individuals into the planning and promotion of new measures as a way of contributing to more effective measures. Ensure, via the national government, close cooperation with administrators in charge of women's affairs in local governments in dealing with complaints related to women's problems.

- Strengthen cooperation with international organizations and national machinery of other countries

Strengthen cooperation with international organizations and national machineries of other countries through various information exchanges, etc., related to the formation of a gender-equal society. Increase opportunities for mutual exchange in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region and actively contribute to the various fora sponsored by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) that are profoundly related to the creation of a gender-equal society in light of Japan's geographical proximity and common cultural roots.

(2) Strengthening cooperation with national and local governments and NGOs; strengthening measures by the entire nation

- Strengthen cooperation between national and local governments

Further strengthen cooperation with regard to information exchanges, establishing research opportunities, and carrying out publicity and educational campaigns in order to ensure the effective implementation of national and local government measures. Actively collect and make available information on the adoption, in local governments, of action plans and pioneering efforts that utilize the special qualities of the region.

Appeal to prefectures and designated cities to steadily promote and enhance the content of measures in the future and ask these governments to cooperate to encourage similar action at the municipal level.

Actively support the efforts of municipalities to improve and enhance promotional structures, formulate and promote action plans that take full advantage of regional characteristics, implement various publicity and educational initiatives, and provide training to staff. Produce guidelines on drafting procedures and basic points to be incorporated, while giving due respect to the independence of these regions to contribute to the action plans of municipalities. Actively provide information to cities that have declared themselves gender-equal and the National Urban Conference on Women's Issues and make efforts to support exchanges among cities and to disseminate knowledge on municipal-level measures nationwide.

Deepen understanding on a gender-equal society among heads of local governments, through national governors meetings, national mayors meetings, national municipality meetings, etc.

- Enhance facilities that serve as bases for the activities of women

Enhance and encourage cooperation among public and private women's centers and other facilities which serve as bases for the activities of women in various regions by providing information to women, providing a space for the independent activities of women's groups and organizations, offering consultation services, conducting research, and performing a variety of other functions.

- Form a network with NGOs

Form a network centered around the national machinery that enables the mutual provision of information on trends in national and local government policy and international conferences, as well as the daily activities of NGOs and information on pioneering action, considering the extremely large role NGOs play toward the creation of a gender-equal society by offering a unique perspective in carrying out volunteer activities in various areas, in order to establish equal cooperative relations among the national government, local governments and NGOs. Upgrade, in this effort, the information network that utilizes new media and to mutually communicate that information in a manner that is suited to the respective medium of communication. Study a mechanism for giving small NGOs working in municipalities and communities access to that information.

- Pave the way for the creation of a gender-equal society

Encourage support so that the national government, local governments, NGOs and others will work together toward the creation of a gender-equal society, and so that all levels of the nation take part in the implementation of a variety of measures.