Japan Press Weekly

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2013 September 4 - 10 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

Civil groups ask for JCP’s cooperation for revision of Civil Code

Civil groups have begun to push political parties to work for a revision of the current Civil Code, following the September 4 Supreme Court decision which recognized as unconstitutional a Civil Code clause on inheritance rights discriminating against children based on their parents’ marital status.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Nihi Sohei on September 5 at the Upper House Members’ Office Building received civil groups delegates, including Sakamoto Yoko, who represents the mNet-Information Network for Amending Civil Code, and lawyer Michi Ayumi, who chairs a committee on gender equality of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Sakamoto pointed out that in addition to provisions unfair to out-of-wedlock children, the existing Civil Code includes various forms of discrimination such as the imposition of the use of the same surname on married couples, a mandatory post-marriage waiting period only for women, and differences between men and women in the legal minimum age of marriage.

She requested that the JCP work to amend the Civil Code in order to eliminate not only discrimination against unmarried couples’ children but also other inequalities in the law.

The JCP lawmaker in reply expressed his determination to take into account the top court decision and work together with other political parties to achieve the amendment.

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The New Japan Women’s Association (NJWA) on September 4 issued a statement under the name of president Kasai Kimiyo acknowledging the Supreme Court ruling as epoch-making and urging the government to take a step to support the revision of the law without delay.

In the statement, NJWA pointed out that Japan has repeatedly received recommendations for the amendment of the discriminatory inheritance clause from the UN.

NJWA demanded that the state and the Diet review all discriminatory provisions in the Civil Code.