To promote gender equality in regions, efforts thus far have focused on acquisition of knowledge and conducting education about perceptions through activities such as workshops and training programs.
In order to further those efforts, from now on it will be important for various constituents such as the government, corporations, regional bodies, and residents to collaborate and form partnerships in their respective regions and develop specific activities in order to solve the tasks of their own regions.
In order to more effectively promote such specific activities in regions, the government will support proactive undertakings aimed at solving the problems of the respective regions.

Problem areas

Insufficient awareness of the importance of gender equality in measures and policies for regional problem-solving
Gender and age biases concerning participation in regional activities
Lack of opportunities for women’s activities, due to deep-rooted perceptions of fixed gender roles, etc.

Necessary undertakings

Building a gender equality base in regions = improving and strengthening the functions of gender-equality centers, etc.

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promoting gender equality by training employees and staff, forming networks among centers, NPOs, and corporations, etc.

Expansion of participation of a wide variety of people in regions

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creating female leaders of regional organizations, etc.

Promotion of gender equality in the fields of community-building and tourism, disaster prevention, and the environment
Specifically, the following five projects will be carried out:

(1) Collection and provision of information

Information on examples of forward-thinking undertakings related to promotion of gender equality in regions will be collected and provided on a homepage.

(2) Practical research and study

With the aim of solving problems in regions, forward-thinking examples of practical activities that incorporate the perspective of gender equality will be collected, analyzed, and provided.

(3) Development and provision of staff training programs

Training programs will be developed for employees of regional public bodies and gender equality centers, with the aim of improving specialized knowledge and various coordination abilities.

(4) Dispatch of advisers

In response to requests from regional public bodies and women's organizations, etc., "advisors" capable of providing appropriate guidance and advice will be dispatched to regions in order to improve activities for solving problems and support the creation of new networks.

(5) Collaborative support projects

Collaborative organizations made up of various constituents that carry out regional activities will be formed. With the aim of solving regional problems, the organizations will specifically implement practical activities that incorporate the perspective of gender equality, and widely spread the positive results of those activities.

Examples of undertakings

Development of community, planning and running tourism events, etc. by the liaison council of a regional women's organization through collaboration with the chamber of commerce
Promotion of WLB carried out collaboratively by the government, NPOs, and corporations
Child-care support carried out collaboratively by schools, social welfare departments, PTAs, and NPOs
Environmental conservation undertakings carried out collaboratively by the government, universities, and NPOs
Disaster-prevention activities carried out collaboratively by the government, regional firefighting brigades, etc.

Since FY 2000, the Cabinet Office and local governments have jointly held the “Gender Equality Forum.” Individual srepresenting various fields in society have attended the forums to raise awareness about gender equality through lectures and sub-sessions. Also, since FY 1994, municipalities other than government-designated cities have become “Gender Equality Declaration Cities” and implemented “Programs Encouraging Gender Equality Declaration Cities” to encourage various initiatives for gender equality.