October 31, 2024

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) issued its concluding observations on October 29, urging the Japanese government to advance domestic efforts to promote gender equality, and recommended for the fourth time that the situation be improved in a wide range of areas, including legal reform regarding the choice of surnames for married couples as well as the early ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Akahata on October 31 carried comments made by Fujita Aya, the Japanese Communist Party Commission for Gender Equality secretary general, on the CEDAW concluding observations on Japan.

Fujita noted that the CEDAW seems to be frustrated with Japan by mentioning that “no steps have been taken” despite the past three recommendations regarding the introduction of a selective dual surname system.

She also noted that the Committee is criticizing the fact that the Japanese government “has taken too long in its consideration of ratification of the Optional Protocol” and is urging Japan to strengthen its overall efforts to “eliminate gender stereotypes on the roles and responsibilities of women and men within the family and within society.”

Fujita said that the Japanese government should take seriously “the absence of a comprehensive and explicit definition of discrimination against women” in law in addition to the absence of “an independent national human rights institution” or of a ministry focused on women’s issues as the Committee pointed out in its observations. She added that Japan should fulfill its obligations as a State Party to address these issues.

The Committee raised a number of issues regarding “reproductive health-care services” and women’s “reproductive rights”. It recommended that “adequate access to emergency contraception” be ensured, and that the requirement for spousal consent for women seeking abortion be removed. Fujita stated that these recommendations reflect the significant progress made in Japan over the past eight years, including the movements calling for legislation to allow same-sex marriage and for the elimination of discrimination related to various gender identities.

She said that the first recommendation on the issue of sexual violence by U.S. soldiers in Okinawa was made possible thanks to many NGOs making efforts to report to and lobby Committee members.

The CEDAW enumerated positive aspects in Japan since 2016 such as “the amendment to the Civil Code abolishing the waiting period for women to remarry upon divorce”, the enactment of the new “act on payment of compensation to persons who underwent eugenic surgery under the now-defunct Eugenic Protection Law”, and the amendment to the Penal Code in regard to sexual violence. Fujita said that all these changes were achieved by the victims themselves breaking their silence to speak out as well as by a growing movement of citizens who support them.

The Committee again urged the Japanese government to ensure “the full implementation of the Convention” as a legally-binding international law.

The Committee expressed concerns that “efforts to raise awareness about the Convention and to promote its implementation are insufficient” and that use of the Convention is limited in Japan. It recommended that Japan “strengthen capacity building for judges, lawyers, and law enforcement professionals on the Convention.” Fujita stated that it is the responsibility of politics to accept the Committee’s observations and recommendations sincerely and make full use of them.

Past related article:
> JCP EC Chair Tamura talks with women’s NGO network [September 4, 2024]