Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 25 - May 8 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

JCP asked for help by government on women’s participation in politics

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on April 25 received a request from the Cabinet Office for the party’s support to increase opportunities for women to take part in politics.

The government sets its goal in the Basic Plan for Gender-Equal Society to raise the proportion of women who take leadership positions to 30% by 2020.

Senior Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office Goto Hitoshi told Ichida that the government is asking each political party to increase the percentage of females in membership, party executives, or candidates for both national and local elections. “I know the JCP’s ratio of women to men is higher than any other party,” he added.

“I agree with you. We will make more efforts in line with the government’s aims,” Ichida replied. At the same time, he pointed out the government’s responsibility for developing an environment in which females rearing their children can continue to work.

JCP Vice-Chair Hiroi Nobuko also participated in the talks. She said, “Japan is behind other nations in this effort to address gender imbalance. I think honest efforts by all parties are important.”