Japan Press Weekly

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2023 May 24 - 30 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Cross-party lawmakers share 5 years of experience under law to promote gender equality in politics

Cross-party Dietmembers on May 23 attended a rally commemorating the 5th anniversary of the enforcement of the Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field, and shared their experiences in efforts they made in national and local elections after the law was enacted in order to improve the gender balance.

The rally was organized by a civil group working to enhance women’s participation in politics. Among Dietmembers participating were Japanese Communist Party lawmakers Takahashi Chizuko (Lower House), Iwabuchi Tomo (Upper house), and Kira Yoshiko (Upper House).

The group’s head, Akamatsu Yoshiko, pointed out that after the law took effect five years ago, the percentage of seats held by women in the House of Representatives, the House of Councilors, and local assemblies went up to 10%, 25%, and 15%, respectively. However, she stressed, “We need to work even harder to catch up with the global level in terms of female representation in politics.”

JCP Takahashi noted that not only the JCP but also other parties in national and local elections have worked to advance gender equality in politics by such means as setting a numerical target for women candidates in elections, adding that the law’s enforcement was significant.

Takahashi reported that in the April nationwide simultaneous local elections, more than 50% of the successful JCP candidates were women. She said that the JCP seeks to make further efforts to increase the number of women lawmakers at the national and local levels.