7. Women in power and decision-making

(1) Expanding women's participation in the policy and decision making process

1)

Increasing participation by women in national policy decision-making processes
Women's participation in decision-making is not only a demand for democracy but is also a necessary condition for women's interests to be taken into account and thus reflected in policies.
For this reason, an international target of 30 percent representation of women at the decision-making level by the year l995 was set in the recommendations arising from the first review and appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women.
In Japan, however, participation by women in policy decision-making processes is at an internationally low level in both public and private sectors.
Nevertheless, Japan has achieved some success in promoting participation by women in national advisory councils and committees as shown below.
Based upon this experience, the Government must first set a leadership example by promoting participation by women in policy decision-making, then request and support similar efforts among local government authorities and enterprises and organizations within the private sector.

a)

Promoting the participation of women in national advisory committees
With the adoption of the New National Action Plan (first revision) by the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality in May l991, efforts were undertaken to substantially increase women representation by the year 2000.
A target ratio of 15% of women members as national advisory council and committees and a target date of March l996 was set.
That goal has been attained with the ratio of women as of the end of March, l996 at 15.5%.
Then in May l996, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality set the new target at the internationally recognized target level of 30% in approximately 10 years time, and for the time being, at 20 percent by the earliest possible time before the end of FY 2000.
Also in December l997, the Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Gender Equality requested 330 organizations and instituttions that make council member recommendations to ensure that the ratio of women they recommend is in line with national goals, as part of the overall effort to increase the ratio of women.
The ratio of women committee members is 18.3% as of September l998.

b)

Supporting the appointment of women to advisory councils and committees in prefectures and designated cities
Since local government policy decisions greatly affect the lives of each and every member of the community, it is desirable to promote women's participation in local policy and decision making processes in the same way as in the national level.
To this end, a survey regarding the participation of women in policy and decision making processes in prefectures, ordinance-designated cities and core cities was conducted, resulting in the setting of targets for participation by women members on advisory councils and committees in prefectures, ordinance-designated cities and core cities.

c)

Participation of women in the policy and decision-making processes in rural communities
To promote the social participation of women in rural communities as equal partners of men, it is necessary to promote women's participation in the decision making processes that dictate the daily production activities and lives of the community.
To promote women's participation,through the Rural Community Partnership Promotion Initiative, numerical targets for increasing women's representation have been set, and the progress of implementation is being monitored.

2)

Promoting women's participation in the policy and decision making process in the international arena

a)

Promoting Japanese women representation in international organizations
The ratio of women among Japanese professionals employed by the UN Secretariat increased from 12.2% as of the end of June, l978 to 54.8% as of the end of June, l997.
Whereas in l975, 19 women professionals were working in UN and international organizations, by l997 that figure had increased substantially to 271.
Among senior level professionals, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is a Japanese woman and more Japanese women are expected to work in the international organizations.
Recruitment Center for International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disseminates information on vacancy positions in the international organizations, recruits candidates and provides advice to applicants.
Furthermore, the Center provides advice to the youth who wish to work as international civil servants.
he Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sponsors the Associate Expert Scheme in which young people are given the opportunity to work in the international organizations for a given period of time.