Official Development Assistance (ODA)

　Over the past few decades, the environment surrounding women has improved significantly, and the gender gap in the education and health sectors has narrowed in the world as a whole. However, there are differences in these developments between countries and regions, and many women still face disadvantages in terms of social participation. There are also issues that are shared by developing and developed countries alike, such as improving women's political and economic status.
　In terms of progress on Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3, "Promote gender equality and empower women," the proportion of female lawmakers worldwide doubled between 1995 and 2015. However, their total number is still only one fifth of that of male lawmakers.
　The preamble to the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 states that it seeks "to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls," and gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls was included as one of the 17 goals (Goal 5). Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are essential tasks and means for achieving the development goals, and further international efforts will be required.
(Reference: United Nations "The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015" "Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" )

63rd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (March 2019)

The 63rd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was held in New York from March 11 to 22, 2019. Japanese representative Dr. Yumiko Tanaka, visiting professor at Josai International University, delivered a statement (English / Japanese Provisional Translation ) highlighting Japan's domestic efforts, including the expansion of childcare and nursing arrangements, and the promotion of measures against sexual crimes and sexual violence. She also touched on Japan's international support for safe and comfortable public transportation systems, which has contributed to improved access to education and health care services for women and children and enhanced their participation in economic activities. Dr. Tanaka went on to state that Japan would continue to take action to promote universal health coverage and continue to provide support for education, a sector whose importance it was stressing as the chair of the 2019 Osaka Summit. At the Ministerial Round Table, Dr. Tanaka described some of Japan's efforts. These included support for single-parent families, and revisions to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and other laws aimed at ensuring equal opportunities and treatment for men and women in employment.

62nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (March 2018)

The 62nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was held in New York from March 12 to 23, 2018. From Japan, Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office Yamashita attended the opening ceremony. Japanese representative Dr. Yumiko Tanaka, visiting professor at Josai International University, delivered a statement (English / Japanese Provisional Translation ) highlighting Japan's domestic efforts, such as the promotion of "Family Management Agreements," through which salary, leave, and other working conditions are negotiated on the basis of discussion between family members. She also touched on Japan's gender awareness programs in Africa and other international support work, and affirmed its commitment to continue to earnestly take action to promote the empowerment of women both domestically and internationally, in order to create a society where all women—including those in the agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors—can play active roles. At the Ministerial Round Table, Dr. Tanaka also emphasized the importance of efforts to eradicate violence against all women, including those in rural areas. In addition, she introduced a project to spread information throughout society about active roles played by women farmers, and talked about support programs for developing new products that make use of women's perspectives.

61st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (March 2017)

On March 13, 2017, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takizawa attended the 61st UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and chaired the Ministerial Round Table. He led discussions on what policies could be adopted to promote the economic empowerment of women in relation to irregular and part-time work. He also participated in discussions with the representatives from the other countries regarding technological advancements, innovations, and economic participation by women, and spoke about Japan's action. Japanese representative Dr. Hiroko Hashimoto, emeritus professor of Jumonji University and principal of Jumonji Junior and Senior High School, delivered a statement (English / Japanese Provisional Translation ) on the 15th. After highlighting the bringing into force of the Act on the Promotion of Female Participation and Career Advancement in the Workplace and Japan's active initiatives at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, she emphasized that Japan would continue to strengthen cooperation with UN Women and other international organizations and with civic society in order to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the international community in relation to achieving economic empowerment for women.

59th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +20) (March 2015)

On March 10, 2015, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Uto delivered a statement (English / Japanese Provisional Translation ) at the 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). In his address, he stated that the Japanese government placed great importance on gender equality and women's empowerment and was working to create a "Society Where Women Shine," both at home and abroad, as Prime Minister Abe had said in his address to the UN General Assembly and speech at the World Assembly for Women (WAW!). Mr. Uto also announced at the CSW that women's participation and leadership in disaster risk reduction would be discussed at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk held in Sendai from March 14 to 18, and that the WAW! Tokyo was going to be held on August 28 and 29, 2015. In addition, he emphasized that Japan would further strengthen its partnership with UN Women and also tackle violence against women in armed conflicts.

54th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +15) (March 2010)

In March 2010, the 54th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +15) was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. At the meeting, participants reviewed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action fifteen years on from their adoption at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, and the outcome report on the Special Session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century." In addition, they adopted an agreement calling on the international community to take further action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Attending the meeting from Japan, the then Parliamentary Secretary of Foreign Affairs Tomomi Nishimura indicated the importance of collaboration among various actors, including international organizations and NGOs, in relation to achieving a gender-equal society. She described Japan's efforts at home, such as the formulation of the Third Basic Plan for Gender Equality and the Work-Life Balance Charter, and action to eradicate violence. Ms. Nishimura also spoke about efforts in the international community, including action to appropriately reflect the gender perspective in all sectors and stages of ODA under the Initiative on GAD, and contributions to discussions regarding new gender organizations.

49th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +10) (March 2005) (Summary and Evaluation)

In March 2005, the 49th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +10) was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and the fifth anniversary of the Special Session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century," this session was held as a high-level meeting with the aim of evaluating and reviewing the implementation of the "Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action" and the "Outcome of the Special Session of the General Assembly 'Women 2000,'" and discussing strategies and future challenges regarding further implementation. The "Declaration" and ten resolutions were adopted as a result.
At a side event hosted by Japan, the "Initiative on GAD" for ensuring gender equality and improving the status of women in developing countries was announced.

United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century" (June 2000) (Summary and Evaluation)

In June 2000, the UN Special Session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century" was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. The purpose of this meeting was to examine and evaluate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action five years on from its adoption at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, and to discuss strategies for its full implementation. A document titled "Further Actions and Initiatives" was adopted to promote the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

Fourth World Conference on Women (September 1995)

In September 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing, China. The conference adopted the "Beijing Declaration," consisting of 38 items and including the promotion of substantial gender equality and full participation of women in all sectors, and the "Platform for Action," which presented strategic goals and action regarding sectors such as poverty, education, health, violence against women, economy, and human rights.