45th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women Statement | Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office

Madam Chairperson,

The special session of the UN General Assembly last year entitled "Women 2000" attracted a large number of governments and NGOs, showing how great the interest in the gender issue is. The negotiations on the outcome documents were not easy, and for a time it seemed possible that no agreement would be reached. However, the "Political Declaration" and "Further Actions and Initiatives" were eventually adopted, demonstrating a shared recognition of the importance of realizing gender equality and the strong commitment of governments to achieving that goal.

The Government of Japan is pleased by the adoption of the "Political Declaration", which reaffirms the commitment of governments to advancing the status of women, recognizes the role and contribution of civil society, and emphasizes the importance of equal responsibility being shared between women and men. Japan also considers that "Further Actions and Initiatives" represents progress from the Beijing conference, for example, in calling for appropriate measures to be taken on violence against women, for a family-friendly policy that would further harmonize professional and family life, for the further involvement of women at the policy-making level in the area of development and peace-building, and for the promotion of further employment of women through education and training in information technology.

Madam Chairperson,

In line with the outcome of "Women 2000," in December last year the Japanese government established the Basic Plan for Gender Equality, a comprehensive document that sets out eleven important objectives, describes the direction of long-term measures to be taken through the year 2010, and details the concrete measures to be implemented by the end of fiscal year 2005. Includeds are measures to expand women's participation in the policy- and decision-making process, remove actual disparities between male and female workers, promote women's participation in social activities and farm management in rural areas, harmonize work with family life, eliminate all forms of violence against women, promote and maintain women's health throughout their life-cycle, and provide education that will lead to gender equality and develop a sense of self-reliance. In accordance with the Basic Plan, the Government has introduced a bill in the Diet that aims to realize the harmonization of work and family life by strengthening the right to child-care leave and reinstatement.

Madam Chairperson,

In the reform of the central government that was put into effect in January this year, the organization and functions of Japan's national machinery for gender equality have been strengthened, for example, by upgrading the former office for gender equality to a bureau. Also, the Council for Gender Equality, one of four such bodies dealing with priority issues, was established, chaired by the Chief Cabinet Secretary and comprised of intellectuals and cabinet ministers concerned. The Council is mandated to investigate and deliberate upon important issues and basic measures relating to gender equality, monitor the implementation status of those measures and assess and evaluate gender impacts of government policies in general. The Government of Japan regards achieving a gender-equal society as a high priority issue in the twenty-first century and is determined to take whatever measures it can under the new system.

Madam Chairperson,

The Outcome documents point to globalization as one of the new challenges the world faces in this area. While globalization has positive aspects, it has intensified problems such as the feminization of poverty and trafficking as well as poverty as a whole, infectious diseases, civil conflict, and refugees. It was to address these issues that the Government of Japan introduced the concept of human security. In March 1999, on the initiative of Japan, the Trust Fund for Human Security was established at the UN, and this January, as the result of an initiative taken by the Prime Minister at the Millennium Summit, the establishment of the Commission on Human Security was announced. The issue of HIV/AIDS, one of our themes this year, is also closely related to human security and is a central part of the development of developing countries. The Government of Japan intends to be actively involved in addressing this issue, for example, through its "Okinawa Infectious Diseases Initiative."

Commercial and sexual exploitation of children is another problem that needs attention from the perspective of human security. Such activity is a grave violation of human rights and it is crucial to take measurers to protect children from being victimized. To that end, the Government of Japan, together with UNICEF, ECPAT, and the NGO group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child will be hosting the Second World Congress against Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children in December this year. We hope that it will be well attended and that discussion will be fruitful.

Madam Chairperson,

The Government of Japan is highly pleased at the success of "Women 2000." However, what is important now is to implement its outcome. Therefore, it is imperative to have a focused discussion on the prospect of the Commission during this session, and adopt effective working methods and a practical multi-year programme which will guide the Commission to the right direction for the full implementation of our commitments. For our part, we are determined to making every effort to promote gender equality and improve the status of women both within and outside the country in cooperation with concerned international institutions and civil society.

内閣府男女共同参画局 Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office〒100-8914 東京都千代田区永田町1-6-1
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