|
On the afternoon of April 24 at the Diet building, DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi and DPJ Acting Secretary General Shinji Tarutoko met with Minister of State for Gender Equality Masaharu Nakagawa and received a request on the expansion of women’s participation in policy decision-making processes. House of Councillors member Katsuya Ogawa, Chair of the DPJ Gender Equality Research Committee; House of Representatives member Kenta Izumi, Acting Secretary General of the same committee; and House of Representatives members Takako Ebata and Makoto Yamazaki, Vice Chairs of the DPJ Gender Equality Department; were also present at the meeting.
Recognizing that the promotion of women’s active participation is crucial for the revitalization of society, and furthermore, that the participation of women in policy decision-making processes is an urgent issue for Japan as it faces the arrival of an era of declining birthrate and aging population, the Third Basic Plan for Gender Equality states that the government will promote effective positive action to achieve the target of “increasing the share of women in leadership positions to at least 30% by 2020 in all fields in society .” In the field of politics, in particular, the Plan calls for the promotion of active initiatives, among other items.
Nakagawa expressed the view that “the active participation of women in society will increase the value of Japan,” and noted that despite this, participation by women in Japan has made very little progress and ranks low among developed countries. “Under the circumstances, this issue is being addressed out of a sense of crisis, from an awareness that as a positive action a law must be established which provides that women hold a 30% share in organizations,” he commented. Nakagawa noted that particularly in the field of politics, despite the high urgency of the issue, the proportion of women in the Diet was low compared to the parliaments of other countries and disparities were increasing. He stated his hope that respective political parties discuss the issue and independently compile a vision, and he requested that the DPJ take leadership on this.
In response, Koshiishi reported that before receiving Nakagawa’s request, he had received a written request on the expansion of women’s participation in policy decision-making processes in the field of politics, signed jointly by House of Councillors members, DPJ Gender Equality Research Committee Chair Katsuya Ogawa and DPJ Gender Equality Department of the party’s National Rallying and Canvassing Committee Chair Kumiko Hayashi. The request addressed to DPJ President Yoshihiko Noda and Koshiishi. Koshiishi stated, “Although there is this idea to start with what is near at hand, looking at the DPJ’s party convention as well as the joint plenary meeting of the party members of both houses, even before the proposal is submitted to Diet members, all one sees are black suits. Few women are included. The request also pointed out that men hold a slightly disproportionate share of party positions. Furthermore, Koshiishi explained, “It was noted that all organizations must further promote gender equality and that active initiatives are sought, to the extent of taking legal action.” Koshiishi said that he and Tarutoko would take active steps to increase the appointment of female Diet members.
|
