NJWA holds 20th National Congress

The New Japan Women's Association held its 20th National Congress on
October 27 and 28 in Tokyo with more than 1,000 delegates attending.

Inoue Miyo, NJWA president and Japanese Communist Party House of
Councilors member, in her address called on delegates to increase their
efforts to get women's urgent demands reflected in national politics.

Takahashi Kazue, NJWA secretary general, proposed to carry out joint
struggles against the hardships the Koizumi Cabinet is imposing onto the
people's lives so that the value of the Constitution stands out in the 21st
century.

Ichida Tadayoshi, JCP secretariat head, in his speech as a guest said
that NJWA's goals such as protection of women's and children's lives from
the danger of a nuclear war and opposition to the adverse revision of the
Constitution represent the common requests of many women. He expressed his
expectations that Shinfujin, which is playing a key role in Japan's women's
movement, develops further both in membership and in movement activism.

The National Congress adopted an appeal calling for opposition to the
Self-Defense Forces taking part in U.S. wars and for defense of the
Constitution's Article 9. The appeal also expressed opposition to all forms
of terrorism, wars, and nuclear weapons.

Inoue was reelected to NJWA president. (end)