Fifth Periodic Report on Implementation of Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Japan)

September 2002

CONTENTS

Part One: General Introduction

1. Orientation of This Report

2. Current Situation of Women in Japan

(1) Population
(2) Education
(3) Employment
(4) Promotion of Policies Related to Gender Equality
(5)Enactment of and Amendments to Laws and Ordinances

Part Two: Report by Article

Article 2

1. Establishment and Reinforcement of the National Machinery, Institutions and Procedures

(1) Reinforcement of the National Machinery: a) Council for Gender Equality; b) Gender Equality Bureau; c) Minister for Gender Equality; d) Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality; e) Liaison Conference for the Promotion of Gender Equality
(2) The Inauguration of the Equal Employment, Children and Families Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

2. Measures Taken to Overcome Remaining Obstacles for Women's Equal Participation in Political, Social, Economic, and Cultural Activities

(1) Promulgation and enforcement of the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society
(2) Formulation of the Basic Plan for Gender Equality
(3) Measures taken by Local Governments

7. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Article 3

1. Measures to Ensure the Full Development and Advancement of Women

(1) Measures for Women with Disabilities: a) Steady Promotion of the Government Action Plan for Persons With Disabilities; b) Disabled Person's Week
(2) Measures for Elderly Women: a) Long-term Care Insurance System

Article 4

1. Women's Participation in the Decision Making Process for Government Policies and Measures

(1) Provisions in the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society
(2) Appointment as members of National Advisory Councils and Committees
(3) Recruitment and Promotion of National Public Officers

2. Women's Participation in the Decision-making Process in Local Government

(1) Appointment as Members of Advisory Councils and Committees of Local Governments
(2) Recruitment and Promotion of Local Government Workers

3. Support for Measures Taken by Private Corporations, Educational and Research Institutions and Other Organizations and Groups

(1) Support for Female Workers: a) Positive Action in the Workplace; b) Appointment of University Faculty Members
(2) Support for Women Entrepreneurs: a) Preferential Treatment System for Financing; b) The Center for the Advancement for Working Women; c) Measures in the Area of Agriculture

Article 5

Article 5. (a)

1. Publicity and Enlightenment Activities for the Correction of Stereotyped Perceptions of Gender Roles

(1) Provisions in the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society
(2) Measures taken by Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality
(3) The Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice
(4) Measures Taken by Local Governments
(5) One-month Campaign on Equal Employment Opportunity Between Men and Women

2. Research and Study

(1) Specialist Committee on Surveying Effects

Article 5. (b)

1. Measures for Promoting Gender Equality in the Family

(1) Education in the Home
(2) Support for the Balancing of Work and Family

2. Research and Study

(1) Research Committee on Family and Life Style

Article 6

1. Current Situation of Prostitution

(1) Prostitution-related Crimes: a) Identified Cases; b) Situation of Processing for Cases Received on Charges Filed by Citizens or Referred From Police at the Public Prosecutor's Office
(2) Prostitution and Prostitution-related Crimes by Non-Japanese Women: a) Situation of Illegal Entry; b) Illegally Working Non-Japanese Women Processed by the Immigration Bureau
(3) Diversifying Forms of Prostitution

2. The Scope of Prostitution and Sexual Exploitation and Measures to Protect Women who were Engaged in Prostitution, and Women Forced to Engage in Prostitution and Related Sexual Exploitation (including Penal Provisions, Prevention and Social Rehabilitation Measures) and the Effects of These Measures

(1) Prevention of Child Prostitution: a) Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protecting Children; b) Hosting of the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
(2) Preventing Prostitution by Non-Japanese Women: a) Current Legal System; b) Measures Taken by the Immigration Bureau; c) International Efforts Against Trafficking
(3) Prevention of Diversifying Forms of Prostitution
(4) Sex Tours to Developing Countries

3. Enlightenment Activities and Sex Education

4. Protection of Women Engaged in Prostitution

(1) Protection and Rehabilitation for Women in Need of Protection
(2) Support for Girls
(3) Protection of Non-Japanese Women

Article 7

1. Women's Participation in the Public Sector

(1) Provisions in the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society
(2) Women Members of the Diet
(3) Women Ministers
(4) Women in the Judiciary
(5) Women National Public Officers
(6) Women Governors and Mayors in Local Governments
(7) Women Members in Local Assemblies
(8) Female Local Government Workers: a) Female Local Government Workers; b) Boards of Education; c) Police Officers

2. Measures to Disseminate the Periodic Report on Implementation of the Convention and Concluding Observations of the Committee

Article 8

1. Current Situation of Participation of Women in the Policy Decision Making in International Areas

(1) Provisions in the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society
(2) Participation of Women in International Conferences
(3) Women Working Overseas: a) International Organizations; b) Ambassadors; c) Women Staff of Overseas Establishments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; d) Dispatch to Peace-keeping Operations (PKO)
(4) Women in Development (WID): a) Measures for Official Development Assistance (ODA); b) International Exchange and Cooperation in the Field of Education; c) Postal Savings for International Voluntary Aid; d) The Center for the Advancement of Working Women (CAWW); e) Japanese assistance to Women in Afghanistan

2. Participation in the Women 2000 Conference

3. Measures to Widely Disseminate Information on International Commitments of the Government that Have an Influence on Women and Official Documents Published by the International Forums.

Article 10

1. Improvement of Education and Learning to Promote Gender Equality

(1) Gender Equality in Education
(2) Promotion of Women's Studies and Studies for the Improvement of Women's Rights
(3) Social Education: a) Programs in Local Areas; b) Increasing Study Opportunities for Education in the Home
(4) Increasing Opportunities for Education and Learning
(5) Empowerment of Women
(6) Training for People with Education Related Profession

2. National Women's Education Center

(1) Training and Exchange Programs
(2) Research Programs
(3) Information Collection and Dissemination

3. Program for Educational Reform

4. Career and Vocational Guidance

Article 11

Article 11. 1

1. Promotion of Measures to Secure Equal Employment Opportunities

(1) Implementation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law
(2) Raising Awareness for the Revised Equal Employment Opportunity Law
(3) Formulation of Basic Policy: a) Basic Policy on Measures for Equal Employment Opportunity; b) Basic Policy on Measures for Equal Employment Opportunity for Seafarers
(4) Support for the Realization of Equal Employment Opportunities: a) Administrative Guidance; b) Positive Action; c) Measures to Prevent Sexual Harassment; d) Resolution of Individual Disputes; e) Review on So-called Indirect Discrimination

2. Organization of Employment Conditions within the Diversifying Forms of Employment

(1) Part-time Workers
(2) Dispatch Worker

Article 11. 1. (c)

1. Policies to Enable Flexible Choice of Profession

(1) Development of Vocational Ability
(2) Career and Employment: a) Career and Vocational Guidance; b) Promotion and Cultivation of Work-related Consciousness and Awareness among Female Students

2. The Center for the Advancement of Working Women

Article 11. 1. (d)

1. Equal Remuneration in Respect of Work of Equal Value

2. Measurement and Quantification of Women's Unpaid Work in the Household

(1) Basic Survey Related to Time-Budget
(2) Valuation of Unpaid Work

Article 11. 2. (c)

1. Establishment of Systems for Child Care and Family Care

(1) Provisions in the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society
(2) Revisions of the Child Care and Family Care Leave Law
(3) Revision of the Employment Insurance Law
(4) Support for Child Raising: a) Support Measures for the Balancing of Work and Child Raising; b) Diverse and High Quality Child Care Services; c) Development of Day-Care Centers; d) After-School Measures for Children; e) Support for Child Raising in Kindergarten
(5) Establishment of the Long-term Care Insurance System
(6) Support to Make Work Compatible With Nursing of Family Membersv: a) Developing an Environment Which Makes it Easier to Continue to Work While Nursing Family Members; b) Support for Re-employment

Article 12

1. Maintaining and Promoting the Health of Women Throughout Their Lives

(1) Overview of "Sukoyaka Family 21 Plan"
(2) Health Support Service
(3) Sex Education and Enlightenment
(4) Supporting the Health of Women Throughout Their Lives: a) Adolescents; b) Period of Pregnancy and Childbirth; c) Adulthood and Senility

2. Measures against Problems that Threaten the Health of Women

(1) Measures against HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Disease
(2) Education on and Understanding of HIV/AIDS

Article 13

Article 13. (b)

1. Measures for Fatherless Families and Widows

Article 14

1. Special Considerations for Rural Women

(1) Women Engaged in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Industry
(2) New Laws and Ordinances Enacted for the Creation of a Gender-equal Society in rural areas
(3) Reforming Consciousness and Behavior in All Places
(4) Creating an Environment Conducive to the Lives and Activities of Women
(5) Wages and Salary in Family Business
(6) Wages and Salary in Corporate Business

2. Ensuring the Participation of and Benefits to Women in the Development of Rural Areas

(1) Farmer's Pension Fund
(2) Women Entrepreneurs
(3) Technical and Management Guidance in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(4) Financing for Women
(5) Overall Extension Service of Home Economics

Article 16

1. Study on Amendment to Civil Code

2. Domestic Violence

(1) Current Legal System
(2) Violence Among Spouses: a) Current Situation; b) Law for the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims; c) Action to Eliminate Violence; d) Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Centers; e) Outline for Implementing Measures to Protect Women and Children; f) The Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice; g) Civil Legal Aid System
(3) Prevention of Child Abuse: a) Child Abuse Prevention Law; b) Protection of Abused Children; c) Publicizing the Obligation to Notify Among People Involved in Education; d) The Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice
(4) Discrimination Against Girl's Rights and Human Rights Infringement

STATISTICAL ANNEX

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Fifth Periodic Report on Implementation of Conventionon the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Japan)

Fifth Periodic Report on Implementation of Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Japan)