46th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women Statement | Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office

Mr. Chairman,

Let me begin by offering the view of my delegation concerning the two themes of this forty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, namely, eradication of poverty and environmental management, and their inter-relationship with gender equality.

The global environmental problems we are facing today are the result of the pursuit of greater productivity, which in turn is the result of the effort to meet basic human needs. The process by which we have pursued these ends, however, has led to gender stratification. The empowerment approach to gender equality is therefore critical to both poverty eradication and environmental management.

The phenomenon of the feminization of poverty can be found in societies all over the world, including those with a high level of economic development and institutionalized welfare services. This phenomenon can be seen in systems where there is an unequal gender division of labor, characterized by gender gaps in access to productive resources, women's lack of control over their own labor and earned income, and gender-biases in labor markets and related institutions.

More recently, the empowerment approach has emphasized a shift from a model of unmet material and physiological needs to a social model of deprivation focused on lack of autonomy, loss of dignity, and powerlessness. Hence it has become increasingly important to address and combat pervasive sexism and agism against women, and in particular, against older women.

Mr. Chairman,

Bearing this conceptual framework in mind, my delegation would like to share with you a variety of efforts that the Government of Japan has recently made with a view to achieving gender equality, in both the domestic and international spheres.

Domestically, first of all, the Government of Japan has taken the following measures. In accordance with a reform implemented in January last year, the organization and functions of Japan's national machinery for gender equality were strengthened, specifically through the creation of the Council for Gender Equality and the Gender Equality Bureau. The Government is also pursuing concrete measures in line with the Basic Plan for Gender Equality adopted in December 2000 in connection with the consideration of the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000." Its goal is to formulate plans and maintain overall coordination within the government. The Council for Gender Equality is looking into and deliberating upon important issues in this area, monitoring the implementation status and effects of measures taken, including those aimed at neutralizing the tax, social security, and employment systems regardless of the choice of lifestyle. Furthermore, in accordance with the Support Measures for the Harmonization of Work and Child Raising passed by the Diet, the Japanese Government has been working toward increasing day care capacities. An amendment to existing legislation has been adopted that strengthens the right to child-care leave and reinstatement in one's job after such leave. Its main purpose is to promote harmonization of work and family life. Also, recognizing that violence against women is a violation of human rights, the Diet adopted the Law for the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims in April last year. It is the first comprehensive legislation in that area, and it is now producing some results.

In addition, to enhance women's participation in the management of agriculture, the Government has been promoting the establishment of agricultural corporations and the creation of funds for interest-free loans to make the purchase of necessary equipment possible. Attention is also being paid to training and to providing information about technology and environmental management with the aim of empowering women. Women in rural areas play a vital role in conserving the environment for sustainable agricultural production through the management of natural resources, thus in turn ensuring food security. Japan will continue to support women in rural areas, so that they can play an active part in the agricultural sector.

After a December 2000 review of its Basic Environment Plan, the Government of Japan placed greater emphasis on the participation of women alongside men in activities related to the environment, in order to take advantage of the valuable contribution they can make. Their contribution stems from the greater interest they generally show in environmental conservation, their fundamental knowledge of environmental issues, and their practical experience.

Mr. Chairman,

Internationally as well, the Government of Japan, together with the international community and various partners, has actively engaged in the empowerment of women. Today, let me focus on just three issues: Women in Development, women in Afghanistan, and commercial and sexual exploitation of children.

First, the damage caused to the environment during the evolution of many developing countries is a very serious problem. The worst victims, unfortunately, are always women and children. In providing support to developing countries, therefore, it is important to pursue development and environmental conservation in tandem. Likewise, to achieve sustainable economic and social development, it is essential, in the process of implementing development assistance, to recognize the importance of the role and status of women and to give it full consideration. Based on this policy, at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, Japan announced an Initiative on Women In Development (WID). It is a policy that focuses on three areas-- education, health, and participation in economic and social activities-aimed at increasing the overall scale of WID-related development assistance. Based on this initiative, Japan has continued to make active efforts to support women. These efforts include the promotion of education and sanitation, family planning, economic autonomy through the provision of micro-credit, enhancement of job skills training, learning opportunities to acquire relevant skills, and improvement of working environments. Special attention has also been paid to the enhancement of capacity for policy planning in developing countries.

The Japanese Government has been working actively with international organizations to achieve gender equality. For example, following a request last October, Japan decided to support, through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security, the UNIFEM project entitled "Enhancing Human Security through Gender Equality in the Context of HIV/AIDS" by allocating to it the sum of three million US dollars. This project will be implemented in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Second, Mr. Chairman, at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan hosted by the Japanese Government together with the USA, EU, and Saudi Arabia in January this year in Tokyo, discussion centered on assistance measures for peace-making and reconstruction. On that occasion, Prime Minister Koizumi announced that Japan's assistance would focus on realizing peace through national reconciliation and "people-building." He also mentioned "education (especially for women) " and "empowerment of women " as key words in Japan's assistance programme.

To establish a fair and functional society in Afghanistan, gender equality and empowerment of women are essential. For the purpose of drawing attention to this point, the Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Gender Equality took the initiative of holding a meeting on assistance to Afghan women to discuss how best to meet their needs.

Third, commercial sexual exploitation of children is another serious problem that the international community is facing. The Government of Japan, together with UNICEF, ECPAT, and the NGO group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, hosted the Second World Congress against Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children in December last year in Yokohama. The majority of victims of such acts, which constitute a grave violation of children's rights, are girls. This problem is even more serious when the social status of women, regardless of age, is lower or when women are excluded from enjoying the benefits of social progress. It is crucial to eradicate commercial sexual exploitation of children, to protect children from being victimized, and to make efforts to promote empowerment of women.

Mr. Chairman,

As I stated earlier, it is necessary to take measures with regard to the perception of gender. For its part, the Government of Japan is determined to make every effort to promote gender equality and improve the status of women both in and beyond our country in cooperation with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society.

Thank you.

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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