Diplomatic Bluebook 2001
Chapter II. JAPAN'S FOREIGN POLICY IN MAJOR DIPLOMATIC FIELDS

SECTION 4. SOCIAL ISSUES

E. Women and Children

1. Women

In June, the UN General Assembly Special Session "WOMEN 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" was held at the UN headquarters in New York City as a follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Japanese delegation was led by Dr. Sumiko Iwao, Chairperson of the Council for Gender Equality, part of the Prime Minister's Office. Dr. Iwao actively contributed to the deliberations whereby the General Assembly adopted a political declaration as well as "Further Actions and Initiatives to Implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action."

Japan is also providing financial support toward improving the capabilities of women in developing countries through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Women in Development (WID) Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and other international organizations.

2. Children

Japan contributes toward protection and promotion of the rights of children and their social welfare through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and through other cooperation efforts. During 2000, Japan donated US$26.6 million to UNICEF.

With a view to further protecting and promoting the rights of children in the international community, Japan also actively participated in the drafting of two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: one concerning the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography, and the other concerning the involvement of children in armed conflict. The two Optional Protocols were adopted at the 54^th Session of the UN General Assembly in May.