Nonbinding law to test Japan’s political parties on gender equality
Source: Japan Times
Political parties are being tested over whether they are earnestly committed to gender equality in Japan’s male-dominated sphere of politics following a law enacted in late July.
The legislation was an “important step” forward for encouraging women’s participation in politics, said Fumio Kishida, chairman of the Policy Research Council of the governing Liberal Democratic Party.
The new law calls for political parties and groups to strive for achieving equality “as much as possible” in terms of number of male and female candidates in national and regional elections.
The law has no binding force, including penalties, and stipulates that political parties and groups should make “voluntary efforts” such as setting goals in order to meet its purpose. In other words, it tests each party’s seriousness about gender equality in politics. Next year’s unified local elections and the triennial election for the House of Councilors will serve as the first measurement of that commitment.
Click here to read the full article published by Japan Times on 30 August 2018.
Political parties are being tested over whether they are earnestly committed to gender equality in Japan’s male-dominated sphere of politics following a law enacted in late July.
The legislation was an “important step” forward for encouraging women’s participation in politics, said Fumio Kishida, chairman of the Policy Research Council of the governing Liberal Democratic Party.
The new law calls for political parties and groups to strive for achieving equality “as much as possible” in terms of number of male and female candidates in national and regional elections.
The law has no binding force, including penalties, and stipulates that political parties and groups should make “voluntary efforts” such as setting goals in order to meet its purpose. In other words, it tests each party’s seriousness about gender equality in politics. Next year’s unified local elections and the triennial election for the House of Councilors will serve as the first measurement of that commitment.
Click here to read the full article published by Japan Times on 30 August 2018.