Press Conferences

Foreign Press Secretary KITAMURA Toshihiro: At the outset, I would like to introduce one initiative concerning efforts to promote gender equality.

On Saturday, November 7, the 2nd Next Generation Forum for Gender Equality will be held at the United Nations University in Shibuya City. This is part of the initiative to foster young people who will lead the gender equality field from a long-term and practical perspective, and to build networks, which we call the Next Generation Networking Program for Gender Equality. The 1st Forum was held in December of last year.

The theme of this forum is “Our Well-being in the Digital Age, Paved by Gender Equality.”

In the opening session, following remarks by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs FUJII, Ms. GUMBONZVANDA, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, will deliver a keynote speech.

In the panel discussions, young people from various fields working to promote gender equality will take part and discuss two themes: “Realizing Well-being through the Promotion of Gender Equality” and “Gender Equality in the Digital Age.”

A reporting session is also planned, in which young people who were dispatched to international conferences and overseas research institutions under the Next Generation Networking Program for Gender Equality will present their findings.

We hope this forum will serve as a catalyst to deepen understanding of gender equality as a common issue both domestically and internationally, and become an opportunity to promote efforts toward achieving the SDGs and realizing a gender-equal society both domestically and internationally.