Part Two: Report by Article

As a basic principle of ensuring gender equality, "the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society" sets forth the "joint participation in planning and deciding polices, etc." Furthermore, it stipulates that the State is responsible for the comprehensive formulation and implementation of policies based on the basic principles. The policies include Positive Action. In Article 2.2 of "the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society," Positive Action is defined as "positive provision of the opportunities stipulated in the preceding item to either women or men within the necessary limits in order to redress gender disparities in terms of such opportunities." Article 8 stipulates that the introduction of Positive Action is the responsibility of the State, and Article 9 stipulates that this is also the responsibility of local governments corresponding to national measures.

With regard to ratio of women members of national advisory councils and committees, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality decided the target, which is "to achieve the target ratio of 20% of women members of national advisory councils and committees by the earliest possible time before the end of FY2000," on May 1996. With efforts being made, this ratio rose to 20.4% in March 2000, which was a year earlier than the given period, thus achieving the target.

Currently, based on the "Promotion of the appointment of women to national advisory councils and committees," which was decided by the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality on 15 August 2000, the new target, which is "to achieve the target ratio of 30% by the earliest possible time before the end of FY2005," was set to be achieved. The ratio of the women members as of the end of September 2001 is 24.7%, showing a dramatic increase as compared with 17.4% as of September 1997 as reported in the Fourth Periodic Report.

The enlargement of women's participation in decision-making processes of national policies and measures serves as a base of the formation of a gender-equal society, and is recognized as one of the important objectives of the "Basic Plan for Gender Equality," formulated in December 2000.

It is necessary for the Government to take the lead in enlarging the recruitment and promotion of female national public officers, therefore the "Guidelines concerning the enlargement of the recruitment and promotion of female national public officers" was formulated and notified to Ministries and Agencies by the National Personnel Authority in May 2001, based upon "the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society" and "the Basic Plan for Gender Equality."

The Guidelines aim to enlarge the recruitment and promotion of women national public officers, through "Positive Action," taken by Ministries and Agencies and to eliminate the gender gap systematically. Based on the Guidelines, each Ministry and Agency is requested to formulate a Plan for the "Enlargement of the Recruitment and the Promotion of Female National Public Officers," which laid out the targets to be achieved by FY2005 together with concrete measures for achieving these targets, after grasping and analyzing the current situation, thereby realizing gender equality on public administration.

In June 2001, responding to the Guidelines, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality decided on "Enlargement of the Recruitment and the Promotion of Female National Public Officers" in order to promote comprehensive and systematic measures taken by the government as a whole.

Furthermore, to expand the ratio of women among the people who pass the recruitment examination systematically, the National Personnel Authority has been proactively engaged in recruiting activities from 2000, such as holding the "Seminar by Female Public Officers for Female Students," etc.

Prefectures and government-designated cities are making efforts to promote the appointment of women in their advisory councils and committees by setting target ratios and dates for achievement.

The ratio of women members of advisory bodies to which the targets had been set by local governments is 22.8% (17.3% as of March 1998). Also, the ratio of women members of advisory bodies in local governments established by the Local Autonomy Law is 16.6% as of March 2001 (12.9% as of March 1998), showing a gradual increase.

To promote the participation of women, local governments are taking various measures such as: creating a list of women human resources; conducting programs to enhance women's abilities; and accepting candidates of advisory bodies from the general public. Some local governments have introduced a system to have prior consultations with sections responsible for gender-equality when they select members of advisory bodies.

Local governments make efforts to enhance the recruitment and promotion of women by setting targets for the appointment of women in managerial positions and conducting training for women in managerial positions.

The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications communicates to local governments the "Guidelines Concerning the Enlargement of the Recruitment and Promotion of Female National Public Officers" formulated by the National Personnel Authority and summaries of the Plans for the Enlargement of the Recruitment and Promotion of Female National Public Officers formulated by Ministries and Agencies, based on the Guidelines. At the same time, the Ministry also conducts research on measures for the appointment of female local government workers and expansion of job categories and provides information on its results.

The research shows certain positive results, for example, about half of local governments are either working on or considering formulating plans for the improvement of recruitment and promotion of female workers. The Ministry will continue its efforts to request and advise on the expansion of recruitment and promotion of female local government workers.

a) Positive Action in the Workplace

b) Appointment of University Faculty Members

a) Preferential Treatment System for Financing

b) The Center for the Advancement for Working Women

c) Measures in the Area of Agriculture