Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged on Saturday to promote the economic independence of women as a core of his “new for of capitalism” policy. He went on to state that Japan will amp up their efforts to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Kishida cited measures his government is taking, including urging Japanese companies to address wage gaps between men and women as well as setting up a system to encourage men to take paternity leave. World Economic Forum reports show Japan is currently ranked 116 among 146 countries in the gender gap rankings this year, which is the lowest amongst the Group of Seven industrialized nations.
The World Assembly for Women, which is the first held since March 2019 due to the pandemic, was attended by world leaders and delegates, including Iceland’s President Gudni Johannesson, whose country has topped the WEF’s gender gap index. Kishida is attempting a cycle of growth and wealth redistribution through his new form of capitalism, in hopes of using the results of the government sponsored event as Japan hosts a G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May next year. The G-7 groups Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, and the European Union.
During Saturday’s meeting, Kishida talked on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and cited reports that brutal acts were committed by Russian soldiers “such as sexual violence against women.” Stating that, “We will look into the situations of women worldwide so that their capabilities can be enhanced and their rights protected.”
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