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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Calling for peace in Iraq, women march in the Ginza

On International Women's Day (March 8), about 1,000 women marched in demonstration through downtown Tokyo, calling for solidarity and action to defend the war renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.

The peace march was preceded by a rally in which Horie Yuri, Japan Federation of Women's Organizations (Fudanren) chair, spoke on behalf of the rally's chief organizer. She said, "We Japanese women are called upon to defend our pacifist Constitution that has been warmly accepted by the world's women."

Ejiri Mihoko, YWCA chair, made the main speech.

Participants adopted two resolutions: one calling on the Japanese government to immediately withdraw the Self-Defense Forces from Iraq and the other urging the U.S. government to end the Iraq war.

Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Kami Tomoko spoke to encourage participants.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's message to the International Women's Day New York rally was read. Annan said, "The theme of this year's International Women's Day -- the role of women in decision-making -- is central to the advancement of women around the world and to the progress of humankind as a whole."

The rally also received messages from the Women's International Democratic Federation and many other overseas and domestic organizations.

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On the same day, representatives of Fudanren and the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and requested that the U.S. Bush administration immediately withdraw from Iraq.

They handed over about 300 signatures in support of an appeal calling for an end to the war in Iraq, including Fudanren, the New Japan Women's Association, the Organizing Committee of the Mothers Congress, and 152 other democratic organizations and public figures.
-Akahata, March 9, 2006